Advanced Plus Security Gandalf_The_Grey's Mobile Security Config

Archived configuration (not current) · expand details
Thread details
Last updated
Oct 19, 2025
Mobile brand
Samsung
Mobile model
Galaxy A34
Mobile operating system
Android
Mobile OS version
16
Mobile security update support
Supported - still receiving security updates
Mobile system updates
Automatic updates
Google Play Protect settings
    • Scan apps with Play Protect
    • Improve harmful app detection
    • Permissions for unused apps to be removed
Google Play system update
Sep 1, 2025
App store(s)
    • Google Play Store
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
App updates
Auto-update on any connection
Screen lock method
PIN
Biometric security
    • Fingerprint(s)
SIM and mobile number protection
    • Lock SIM card with a PIN
Stolen Device Protection
On
Unknown tracker alerts
    • Unknown Tracker Alerts (Android)
Find a lost device
    • Google Find Hub (formerly Find My Device)
    • SmartThings Find (Samsung)
Security and privacy apps
Samsung Device Care powered by McAfee and Samsung Auto Blocker
Firewall and VPN apps
AdGuard ad blocker for Android and AdGuard VPN for Android
Mobile browsers
Microsoft Edge
Password and passkey manager
Bitwarden
Phone & Caller ID
Phone by Google
Messaging
WhatsApp
Note-taking
Microsoft OneNote
Cloud storage
Microsoft OneDrive
Android launcher
Samsung One UI 8.0
Two-factor authentication
Microsoft Authenticator
File and photo backups
Apps and settings automatically on Google One.
Photos automatically on Microsoft OneDrive
Subscriptions
    • Microsoft 365 Family (up to 1 TB per person)
Notable changes
2025.10.19 Got Samsung One UI 8.0 with Android 16 and back to Microsoft Edge.
2026.10.01 Back to Google Chrome and config up to date
Feedback preference

Only essential issues, please

When I was on holiday, I noticed that Samsung's own Internet browser drains the battery a lot less than Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
So, I changed to Samsung Internet as default browser.
A disadvantage is that Bitwarden's auto fill doesn't work but with copy paste you can work around it, and it is a known (hopefully gets resolved) issue.
 
Back to Google Chrome and config up to date

Gandalf_The_Grey's Mobile Security Config · Setup v2
Updated Oct 1, 2026

What changed
  • Mobile browsers: Microsoft Edge → Google Chrome
  • Security and privacy apps: Samsung Device Care powered by McAfee and Samsung Auto Blocker → Samsung Device Care powered by McAfee
  • Notable changes: 2022.01.01 new config for the new year
    2022.04.09 got a new mobile phone
    2022.05.31 installed Opera browser app
    2022.07.18 back to Chrome and switched from Samsung to Google phone
    2022.07.26 got the update to Android 12, enabled OneDrive and back to MS Edge
    2022.09.18 up to date with the latest changes in this form
    2023.05.19 changed from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI
    2023.07.05 bought a Samsung A34
    2024.02.02 activated Samsung Auto Blocker
    2024.04.20 got the April 1 Android security patch
    2024.05.24 filled the new fields
    2024.07.12 got the Google Play system update of June and went back from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI.
    2024.10.20 from Microsoft Edge to Samsung's own browser and got the Google Play system update of September.
    2025.10.19 Got Samsung One UI 8.0 with Android 16 and back to Microsoft Edge. → 2022.01.01 new config for the new year
    2022.04.09 got a new mobile phone
    2022.05.31 installed Opera browser app
    2022.07.18 back to Chrome and switched from Samsung to Google phone
    2022.07.26 got the update to Android 12, enabled OneDrive and back to MS Edge
    2022.09.18 up to date with the latest changes in this form
    2023.05.19 changed from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI
    2023.07.05 bought a Samsung A34
    2024.02.02 activated Samsung Auto Blocker
    2024.04.20 got the April 1 Android security patch
    2024.05.24 filled the new fields
    2024.07.12 got the Google Play system update of June and went back from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI.
    2024.10.20 from Microsoft Edge to Samsung's own browser and got the Google Play system update of September.
    2025.10.19 Got Samsung One UI 8.0 with Android 16 and back to Microsoft Edge.
    2026.10.01 back to Google Chrome and config up to date
  • Google Play system update: 2025-09-01 → 2026-08-01
  • Note-taking: Microsoft OneNote → Not specified
  • Android launcher: Samsung One UI 8.0 → Samsung One UI 8.5
  • Mobile security update support: Older selection — review required → Supported - still receiving security updates
  • Android security patch date: Not specified → 2026-07-05
  • Screen lock method: Older selection — review required → PIN
  • Find a lost device: Older selection — review required → Google Find Hub (formerly Find My Device)
  • Subscriptions: Older selection — review required → Google One Basic 100GB, Microsoft 365 Family (up to 1 TB per person)
  • Feedback preference: Older selection — review required → Only essential issues, please
My current setup
  • Mobile model: Galaxy A34
  • Mobile operating system: Android
  • Security and privacy apps: Samsung Device Care powered by McAfee
  • Mobile browsers: Google Chrome
  • File and photo backups: Apps and settings automatically on Google One.
    Photos automatically on Microsoft OneDrive
  • Mobile brand: Samsung
  • Mobile OS version: 16
  • Mobile security update support: Supported - still receiving security updates
  • Mobile system updates: Automatic updates
  • Google Play Protect settings: Scan apps with Play Protect, Improve harmful app detection, Permissions for unused apps to be removed
  • Android security patch date: 2026-07-05
  • Google Play system update: 2026-08-01
  • App store(s): Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store
  • App updates: Auto-update on any connection
  • Screen lock method: PIN
  • Biometric security: Fingerprint(s)
  • SIM and mobile number protection: Lock SIM card with a PIN
  • Stolen Device Protection: On
  • Unknown tracker alerts: Unknown Tracker Alerts (Android)
  • Find a lost device: Google Find Hub (formerly Find My Device)
  • Firewall and VPN apps: AdGuard ad blocker for Android and AdGuard VPN for Android
  • Password and passkey manager: Bitwarden
  • Phone & Caller ID: Phone by Google
  • Messaging: WhatsApp
  • Cloud storage: Microsoft OneDrive
  • Android launcher: Samsung One UI 8.5
  • Two-factor authentication: Microsoft Authenticator
  • Subscriptions: Google One Basic 100GB, Microsoft 365 Family (up to 1 TB per person)
  • Notable changes: 2022.01.01 new config for the new year
    2022.04.09 got a new mobile phone
    2022.05.31 installed Opera browser app
    2022.07.18 back to Chrome and switched from Samsung to Google phone
    2022.07.26 got the update to Android 12, enabled OneDrive and back to MS Edge
    2022.09.18 up to date with the latest changes in this form
    2023.05.19 changed from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI
    2023.07.05 bought a Samsung A34
    2024.02.02 activated Samsung Auto Blocker
    2024.04.20 got the April 1 Android security patch
    2024.05.24 filled the new fields
    2024.07.12 got the Google Play system update of June and went back from Microsoft launcher to Samsung One UI.
    2024.10.20 from Microsoft Edge to Samsung's own browser and got the Google Play system update of September.
    2025.10.19 Got Samsung One UI 8.0 with Android 16 and back to Microsoft Edge.
    2026.10.01 back to Google Chrome and config up to date
  • Feedback preference: Only essential issues, please
Feedback on this setup is welcome.
 

Recently browsing

Members who viewed this thread in the last 5 minutes

Back
Top