- Google may be working on a new security feature for Quick Share that will require sender confirmation before transferring files.
- This extra security step may be active for users who have enabled Android’s Advanced Protection mode.
- The feature could prevent opportunistic people from exfiltrating files from your phone.
The easiest way to share files between Android devices is through Quick Share, Google’s peer-to-peer file sharing service often called the “AirDrop of Android.” Using it is simple: select your files, tap the share button, choose Quick Share, and then pick a nearby device. It’s so easy, in fact, that someone could grab your unattended phone and send files to themselves in seconds. If that possibility worries you, then we have good news: Quick Share may soon require confirmation before transferring files if you’ve enabled Android’s Advanced Protection mode.
To prevent abuse, Quick Share already requires the recipient to accept a transfer, unless they’re using a device signed into your own Google Account. The sending device, however, doesn’t require any confirmation before initiating a transfer. This design assumes the sender is the phone’s owner or an authorized user, which isn’t always the case. Recognizing this, Google recently introduced a variety of Theft Protection features on Android to guard your data against bad actors who might get past your screen lock by, for example, asking to quickly “borrow” your phone to look something up.