Android’s well-known security features are being brought together during a new branding

A new video reminds you that security is in good hands when you are “protected by Android”

Google may not be as smart as Apple when it comes to selling security with its operating system, but it has worked hard to improve its game. With the presence of features like the Privacy Dashboard, status bar indicators that let you know about apps that use sensitive hardware, and the ability to share the approximate location over the exact one, there’s no doubt that the latest version of Android abounds in security – so it would make sense to market it that way. And this is where a new branding comes in, with the purpose of reminding you to be calm with privacy if you own an Android.

A new video uploaded today on Android’s official YouTube channel is about telling you that you are “Protected by Android”, with pictures of happy people on their phones and slides with short, reassuring captions in between. Nothing new is announced here, as the video only reviews some of the operating system’s familiar security features. Play Protect makes sure you’re “safe from malware and malicious apps,” though the whole ghost of “non-stop updates” falls a little flat when software support varies so much, not just between device manufacturers, but device series.

We expect to see more of the new “Protected by Android” branding along with the green shield logo popping up across the operating system and elsewhere from here.

The video concludes by spraying the screen with a vanity URL that ultimately redirects users to the security section of the Android site, where features teased in the video are explained in a little more detail.

All of this is part of Google’s latest effort to tell you how focused it is (forget Apple) on privacy and security. If you want material evidence, we think that automatic revocation of permissions from Android 11 is a great example. And if you’re not convinced, Android 13 will make it easier to understand and control your settings with a combined security and privacy menu.

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