How secure is Google and their applications?

[Zorro_11]

I'm a new user/stranger to Android on my new Samsung phone. I've been using Apple for 7 years and have decided to try out Android phone instead. While I'm starting to like it, at the same time I am concern about my privacy. I have several sensitive information from 3 different companies but it's still on my iPhone for now. If I play it safe by download app from play store only and do not click any links that could be infected with malware, should I be concern using Google or any of their apps due to their advertisement purposes?

 

[me just saying]

they are as secure as apple as long as you keep everything updated and only use apps from the play store. As far as privacy, be sure to look at permissions and make sure they make sense for the specific app. My only suggestion is to do whatever gives you a piece of mind, whether you continue to use apple for your sensitive info or use android. Just to note, google is going to be google. They are basically a data broker. Just be sure to go to your google control panel online and check your marketing settings.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Be aware that Google does NOT sell your information to anyone -- they are very clear about this: https://safety.google/privacy/data/#:~:text=Information we collect as you,Videos you watch. They do use your data to determine what ads to show you (because at its heart, Google's revenue is still primarily from ads) -- but Google's the one who shows you the ad, not the company the ad is for. This is different from Samsung, who has acknowledged that they may sell your data to a 3rd party.

I feel quite secure with Google, given their track record -- I don't recall any major data breaches (just like with Apple), unlike Yahoo and some other major companies. If you always use 2-step authentication, that adds another important layer of security.

That being said, do I save my very sensitive information in Google Drive, like bank accounts and passwords in plain text? No -- the ones I do are in a code that make sense to me, but wouldn't make sense to anyone else. But I use LastPass for my main password management.

 

[Zorro_11]

Thank you!

B. Diddy, where do you normally put your sensitive information if you need to carry it with you by going out of town and out of state?

On my iPhone, I normally put it in Tresorit. So, I can access it via my laptop and iPhone. Perhaps, I can do it the same for my Tresorit app, but on this Samsung device?

 

[mustang7757]

I use Google drive for my business documents, passwords I use Google auto fill and Samsung pass .

 

[mustang7757]

I'm a new user/stranger to Android on my new Samsung phone. I've been using Apple for 7 years and have decided to try out Android phone instead. While I'm starting to like it, at the same time I am concern about my privacy. I have several sensitive information from 3 different companies but it's still on my iPhone for now. If I play it safe by download app from play store only and do not click any links that could be infected with malware, should I be concern using Google or any of their apps due to their advertisement purposes?

Welcome to AC!

 

[B. Diddy]

B. Diddy, where do you normally put your sensitive information if you need to carry it with you by going out of town and out of state?

LastPass.

 

[Zorro_11]

Thank you mustang! Curious, do Google also read any data on their Google Drive for advertisement purpose as well? I am still reading the data practices and transparency under Google. Also, clarify me on this, if I pay for Google Suite, does that mean they won't read any data on Google Drive since I have paid for their service?

B. Diddy, LastPass can let you store documents in it beside password? I am using 1Password, but it's seem a little glitchy with Android than it is on my iPhone.

 

[B. Diddy]

If you pay for LastPass premium, you can get 1 GB of encrypted storage.

 

[Zorro_11]

B. Diddy, nice. I am checking those out right now. Thank you!

 

[mustang7757]

Thank you mustang! Curious, do Google also read any data on their Google Drive for advertisement purpose as well? I am still reading the data practices and transparency under Google. Also, clarify me on this, if I pay for Google Suite, does that mean they won't read any data on Google Drive since I have paid for their service?

B. Diddy, LastPass can let you store documents in it beside password? I am using 1Password, but it's seem a little glitchy with Android than it is on my iPhone.

I'm not aware up to this point if they do , don't look like it , I've been using them for past 3-5 years, I don't use google suite . I think the main they collect is web searchers and you tube searches .

 

[Zorro_11]

Thank you mustang! Looking forward to see how this phone will treat me. Love all the customizes I be able to do on my Note 20.

 

[mustang7757]

Thank you mustang! Looking forward to see how this phone will treat me. Love all the customizes I be able to do on my Note 20.

Very very solid phone I own the Note 20U myself few Google and iPhone. Your welcome!

 

[Rukbat]

With KeePass, you also get pretty secure encryption, and you can store the data file on Google Drive. I've been doing that for years and have never had a problem.

As far as Google, I'm sure they have employees who can read your data that's stored in the phone's synced storage or in Drive, but ... I retired from the same type of work. One of the prime things imparted to new employees is that if they EVER look at a customer's data without the customer's permission, they won't be fired, the company would be pressing criminal charges against that employee, and the police would come to the office to arrest her/him. (When you call Google for help, they may ask your permission to access a record of yours. That's their record of you - but they still record you giving them permission to look at it.)

So all in all, I'd say that they're about as secure as it can get.