This Android 17 setting logs suspicious activity on your phone for troubleshooting - turn it on ASAP

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As a longtime Linux user, I am accustomed to having access to all the logs I need. With those logs, I can track down any issues that arise and troubleshoot them. I can also look into suspicious behavior, such as an app or service sending or receiving information that it shouldn't.

On Linux, there are logs for just about anything.

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Until a recent Android 17 security update , logs have been pretty much MIA. But now, with Intrusion Logging, that's changed.

Intrusion Logging provides a log of security events on your Android phone, derived from the Android SecurityLog API. Once the feature is enabled, it starts tracking events on your phone. These logs use end-to-end encryption, and even though they are stored on Google Cloud servers, the only person who can view them is you because the decryption key is linked to your account password and screen lock.

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The information stored in the Intrusion Logging logs relates to application activity; installation, deletion, and updating of apps; network connections, including DNS queries , IP addresses, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth status; file transfers via Bluetooth; modifications to system certificates; and phone locking and unlocking events.

Having access to those logs could be key to solving security-related issues on your device, and now you have access to a log that hands over such information.

Enabling Intrusion Logging is quite simple. All you have to do is go to Settings > "Security & privacy" > Advanced Protection. Scroll to the bottom of that page and tap Intrusion Logging.

Advanced Protection offers plenty of security features for you to consider.

On the resulting page, tap the on/off slider until it's in the on position. Also, make sure the feature is associated with the correct Google account.

Just tap the slider and you'll be prompted to prove you are who you say you are.

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With Intrusion Logging enabled, that's all you need to do unless you suspect something has happened.