Android Q to get a ton of new privacy features

The next Android version of Google, currently called Android Q, will arrive later this summer with many privacy enhancements.

Details on these new additions were revealed earlier this week after Google released blogs and new Android support pages for Android Q after publishing a first beta earlier in the week.

Below you will find all the privacy-focused features that should land in the stable version of Android Q late August.

Access to clipboard data

Android apps can no longer access the clipboard data from the Android OS unless they are in focus (running in the foreground, also on the screen ).

Applications can access clipboard data in the operating system background if they are also the default input method editor (IME) – the default keyboard applications.

Randomization of MAC addresses is enabled by default

Google introduced randomization of MAC addresses in Android 6.0, but devices only broadcast a random MAC address when the smartphone launches a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth scan in the background.

Android Q devices will now transmit a default random MAC address, at any time, and for all communications.

Although security researchers have proven that they can always track devices with random MAC addresses, supporting this feature would reduce the efficiency of some data collection and user tracking operations.

Deleting easy access to network data

Android Q will also remove the / proc / net function that gives information about the device's network status.

Application developers have other solutions, but these are protected by permissions. Free lunch for some data collectors is complete.

Deleting easy access to device details

Similarly, from Android Q, Google will also ask application developers to request special permission before they can access what the OS manufacturer calls "non-resettable device identifiers" "–device IMEI and serial number.

Unclassified contact data

Google also decided that Android Q would stop tracking contacts based on the frequency of interactions.

Any application that has been granted access to the user's contacts will only get unclassified contacts.

More control over location data

One of the most interesting features that will be included in Android Q is probably the new location permissions access wizard.

From the next Android version, users will be able to give apps access to location data at any time or only when the app is active (in the foreground).

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