I’m a tech expert and Android owners are missing 3 key tools to fend off crooks

CYBERATTACKS are an unavoidable risk for everyone these days.

So it’s wise to keep on top of the latest protective tools at your disposal – and many you may not realise are on your smartphone already.

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A Curry’s expert has revealed some of the essential features you could be missing out on on the Google Pixel – though some of the features are on other Android devices as well.

Call Screening

Call screening is a great way to avoid spam calls.

The system will answer the call on your behalf and transcribe responses from the caller for you to check before answering.

You can even input your own preset screening questions for it to ask.

To switch it on, go to the Phone app and tap the three-dotted button.

From there, select Settings, then Spam and Call Screen.

Turn on See caller and spam ID.

Next, tap Call Screen.

Under ‘Unknown call settings’ you can select the types of calls you’d like to check.

You can tap Automatically screen and Decline robocalls too.

Verified SMS

Verified SMS helps with the all-too-common phishing texts.

The feature simply adds identities of businesses as contacts when you receive texts, filtering out the illegitimate SMS requests and helping you more easily identify fraudsters.

To switch it on, go to the Messages app and tap the three-dotted button.

Go to Settings, then Verified SMS.

Turn on Verify business message sender.

VPN

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro owners can access VPN by Google One for free.

VPNs are ideal for peace of mind that your connection is private and secure.

As Google itself describes it, a VPN “works like a privacy cloak, adding a layer of encryption to your internet activity that shields it from eavesdropping hackers and network operators”.

It also masks your IP address so sites and apps you go on can’t track your activity or workout your location.

To make use of it, go to the Google One app – or install it if you don’t have it already.

Tap on the VPN tile, then turn it on.

Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks

Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…

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