Google issues warning over dangerous apps: 'Turn off' this setting in your account to stay safe

Keeping yourself safe online became a challenge during the digital age. If you are using a smartphone with a bunch of apps on it, you are likely tracked and risk being hacked.

But as Google prides itself in high security standards, the company regularly shares tips for how to stay safe online.

They now urge users to turn off this app setting in order to protect your privacy.

Here is how to access apps safely

Google recommends turning a specific setting off to keep yourself safe from malicious and dangerous apps.

The tech giant's support page refers to a feature called 'Less secure app access'.

It's a function that lets you access apps that might otherwise be blocked by Google's safety features.

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The company explains:

Because less secure apps can make your account more vulnerable, Google will automatically turn this setting off if it’s not being used.

If ‘Less secure app access’ is still on for your account, we recommend turning it off now and switching to more secure apps.

You may already have the feature turned off but checking is easy.

How do I know if the setting is on?

To check, open your Google Account and find the ‘Less secure app access’ section. You may need to sign in to turn it off.

However, in some cases you'll find the setting is already being controlled for you if you're using public or work WiFi.

Some users will see a message that says: 'This setting is managed by your domain administrator’.

If you can control the setting, you can also turn it on via the same route. This is not recommended by Google but it does allow it to happen.

Google warns:

Less secure apps can make it easier for hackers to get into your account, so blocking sign-ins from these apps helps keep your account safe.

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Sources used:

- The Sun: 'Google warns billions of users over dangerous app setting that should be turned off right now'