If you regularly use Google services, both on your computer and on your mobile device, you have at your fingertips a genuine arsenal of security and privacy tools that are almost never fully utilizedFrom Chrome's security check to Safety Check on Android, including SafeSearch, ELS, and the new anti-theft protection in Android 15, the Google ecosystem has become a kind of personal "switchboard" to take care of you and your data.
In the following lines we will see how Use Google Safety Check and the other key security features For safer browsing, preparing your phone for emergencies, protecting it against theft, and filtering sensitive content. All explained in plain Spanish, with everyday examples and no strange technical jargon, so you can set everything up in no time and forget about it until you really need it.
Google Chrome security check: your first line of defense
When we talk about Safety Check on Google, we're not just referring to mobile: Chrome It integrates its own "security check" that scans the browser for potential problems and suggests how to fix them. The idea is simple: a kind of periodic check that alerts you to leaked passwords, dangerous extensions, or outdated versions.
First of all, it's important to make sure that You have the latest version of Chrome installed, as each update usually includes critical security patches.On a computer, simply go to the three-dot menu, enter Settings, and check the About Chrome section; on mobile, updates come from the app store.
To run the security check on your PC, you just need to Open Chrome, go to More > Settings > Privacy and security and click on “Go to security check”From there, the browser performs a quick analysis of several sensitive sections and tells you what is okay and what requires attention.
This check reviews, among other things, whether one of the passwords you save in Google Password Manager has been compromised in data leaks, if you are taking advantage of the Safe browsing protection against malware and phishing, if you have pending Chrome updatesas well as annoying notifications, permissions for sites you no longer use, or potentially harmful extensions.
When Chrome detects a problem, It displays very clear notices next to each item with a button to go directly to the solution.For example, it might prompt you to change a weak password, uninstall a suspicious extension, or reactivate Safe Browsing. If everything is in order, you'll see a message indicating that there's nothing that requires your attention at this time.
Advanced security settings in Chrome: HTTPS, secure DNS, and more
Beyond automatic review, Chrome lets you enable several Advanced options to strengthen the security of your connectionsOne of the most interesting is "Always use secure connections," which forces the browser to try to load all websites with HTTPS and warns you before entering pages that are not compatible.
To enable this feature you must Open Chrome on your computer, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Security and enable “Always use secure connections”Then you can choose whether you want to receive alerts only in unsafe public places or also in internal places (such as your company's intranet), thus adjusting the level of security.
Another important layer is the Secure DNS, which encrypts the query when Chrome looks up a website's IP address.It's enabled by default in automatic mode, but you can select a specific secure DNS provider in the same Security section. If that DNS fails, Chrome might revert to unencrypted mode unless you've explicitly forced a custom provider.
On devices managed by companies or with parental controls, it is possible that You cannot modify the secure DNS or some security settingsbecause central policies are applied. On Chromebooks, some of this configuration is managed through ChromeOS's own settings, which include a specific section for secure DNS.
Chrome also allows you to adjust very specific parameters such as V8 security, the engine that optimizes JavaScript execution to improve page performanceKeeping the optimizer active is recommended, but if you prioritize security above all else, you can disable it at the cost of some sites running slower or even experiencing errors.
Finally, from the advanced security module you can manage physical security keys (FIDO/U2F) used for two-step verification, defining a PIN for the key, checking stored credentials, adding or deleting fingerprints on the key itself, and restoring it completely if you need to clean it.
Safety Check on Android: turn your mobile into a personal safety center
In the mobile realm, Google is bringing together many of its emergency tools into a single application which, according to the manufacturer, may be called Personal Safety, Security, Emergencies or Personal SafetyThis app includes features such as Safety Check, Emergency Alert, SOS Emergency, crisis alerts, earthquake alerts, and management of your medical record and emergency contacts.
Safety Check on the latest Pixel phones and other compatible Android devices It allows you to schedule a check for a specific time.For example: you're walking home alone at night, you set a cut-off time, and if you don't confirm you're okay by then, the phone automatically notifies your contacts and shares your location in real time.
It is a function designed for situations where you'd prefer someone to know where you are if things go wrongsuch as mountain hikes, trips to unfamiliar areas, or meetups in places you don't know. You choose the reason, the duration of the verification, and the contacts who will be notified if you don't respond.
On some Pixels you can even Start or stop Safety Check using voice commands to Google Assistantwith phrases like “Hey Google, start a security check” or “stop the security check.” Perfect if you can’t handle your phone with your hands or if you want to launch the check as quickly as possible.
For all of this to work, it's important that the phone meets several basic requirements: Have the Personal Safety / Emergencies app installed and updated, have an internet connection, have location services enabled, and have at least one emergency contact configured.Some advanced features also require an active SIM card and mobile coverage to make emergency calls.
Configure the Safety app, medical record, and emergency contacts
This app is usually found in Settings > Safety and emergencies > Personal safety / EmergenciesThe exact name depends on the model. It also often appears in the app drawer with icons related to a shield or a medical cross.
The first time you log in, the system may suggest that Use your Google account to sync some of your emergency informationsuch as contacts or SOS videos. You can continue without a Google account if you prefer, but you lose benefits like cloud backups or access from other devices.
The interface is usually divided into two areas: a tab with the safety functions (SOS, Safety Check, Emergency Warning, alerts) and another with “Your information”, where you configure your medical record, add trusted contacts and decide what is shown on the lock screen even if the phone is locked with a PIN.
Before activating Safety Check willy-nilly, it's essential to fill out the section correctly. medical information and emergency contactsThere you can enter your full name, blood type, allergies, medication, important addresses and notes that may help healthcare workers in an emergency, as well as indicate if you are an organ donor.
In the same section you can Select one or more emergency contacts from your address book.These contacts will be the ones who receive alerts, SMS messages, links to your real-time location, or even links to SOS videos. It's advisable to let them know beforehand that you've added them, so they aren't surprised if they receive an unexpected emergency message.
It's also essential to decide if you want to This data will be displayed on the lock screen without needing to unlock the device.By activating the "Show on lock" option, anyone can view your medical information and call your emergency contacts, which can save time in an accident, although it does expose some sensitive information.
How Safety Check works and what happens if you don't respond
Safety Check (sometimes translated as “Check your status” or “Security verification”) is used when you want to ensure that, if some time passes without you confirming that you are okay, an automatic protocol is triggered with your trusted contacts.
To create a verification, open the Security app and tap on Security checkThere you choose a reason (for example, "walking home" or "hiking"), define the duration of the check (from a few minutes to several hours) and mark the contacts who will receive the alert if you do not answer.
When you activate Safety Check, the system schedules an alert for the cut-off time. As that time approaches, You will receive a notification with an alert sound lasting about 60 seconds. to indicate if you are okay, if you want to share your location immediately, or if you prefer to call the local emergency number (in Spain, 112).
The warning screen usually displays options like these “I’m OK”, “Share now” or direct call to emergency servicesIf you confirm that everything is in order or cancel the verification early, no message or alert is sent to your contacts; the verification is simply closed.
If you don't respond in that critical minute, the system interprets that something might go wrong and It triggers an Emergency sharing alert to the contacts you had selectedThis notification includes your real-time location, your name, the reason for the verification, and, in many cases, details such as battery percentage and the time of the last positioning.
In parallel, if you had previously activated a manual Emergency Alert or were already continuously sharing your location, This real-time location tracking can remain active for up to 24 hours., or until you manually stop it or the device runs out of coverage or battery.
If the mobile phone turns off, runs out of data, or loses signal before the scheduled time, Verification remains "pending" and, once the deadline arrives, the last known location will be sent.It may not be perfect, but in many rescues that initial reference is crucial.
Manage, extend, or stop a security check
It is very common for a plan to take longer than expected and You need to extend a security check that is already active.Google has anticipated this scenario and allows you to add extra time as long as you do not exceed 24 hours from the original start time.
To extend the duration you can Go back into the Security app, go to the Security Verification section and tap on “Add time”From there you choose how many minutes or hours you want to add, and the system recalculates the notification and the cut-off time.
Even more practically, you have at your disposal a persistent notification at the top of the screen while Safety Check is runningWhen you expand it, you'll usually also see the option to "Add time" or "Change duration," which lets you modify the verification with just a couple of taps, without opening the entire app.
If you have a compatible smartwatch, on some models you can manage verification directly from your wristConfirm that you're safe, extend the monitoring time, or stop it when it's no longer needed. This is especially useful if you have your phone stored away or if you're on the move.
When you no longer need that supervision, you can always Stop Safety Check manually from the notification or from the app's own menu.By doing so, the check is complete and, if it was planned to notify your contacts, they may receive a message indicating that everything has been resolved successfully.
Emergency alert, SOS and recording: share your location and ask for help
In addition to Safety Check, the Safety app offers a feature for Share your real-time location instantly with your contacts, without needing to schedule anythingIt's called Emergency Alert or Emergency Sharing and it's designed for situations where you already have a problem or feel at risk at that very moment.
To use it, simply go to Personal Safety / Emergencies and tap on “Emergency Notice”You select one or more contacts, add a short message explaining what's happening, and tap "Share." Your contacts receive a link showing your location on a map, along with information such as battery status and time since your last known position.
This alert remains active for up to 24 hours unless you decide to change it. Stop it manually from the appWhen you close it, on many devices you can take the opportunity to send an automatic or personalized message indicating that you are now out of danger.
Emergency SOS, meanwhile, turns the power button into a Direct access to call the emergency number, send alerts to your contacts and, if configured, record video of what is happeningIt can be activated by pressing the power button quickly several times in a row (usually 5 presses or more).
In the SOS settings you can define which emergency number to call, which contacts will receive the alerts, and whether a video recording will also be initiated.Additionally, you decide whether you want a countdown before calling (to avoid false positives), whether there will be a loud alarm sound, and how the generated videos will be managed.
The emergency recording is intended to leave Visual record of what is happening, while the system simultaneously calls 112 and notifies your contactsThe videos can be quite long (around 45 minutes), take up about 10 MB per minute, and can be automatically uploaded to your Google account to be shared via a temporary link.
When the recording finishes, if you had activated automatic sending, The system generates a link that is sent to your contacts after a few seconds.During that time, you can still cancel the submission if you decide it's unnecessary or that the content is too sensitive. From the "Your Videos" section, you can stop sharing them, generate new links, or delete them permanently.
Crisis alerts, ELS, and access from the lock screen
The Security application also integrates a system of Crisis alerts to warn you of natural disasters or relevant public emergencies in your areasuch as floods, fires, extreme storms, or other threats. These alerts typically open more detailed information directly in Google Search.
In addition, Android connects with the official wireless government notification systemsThese include civil protection alerts or AMBER alerts. They usually appear at the top of the screen even when you're using other apps, and often include very specific alert tones so they don't go unnoticed.
In some countries it is also included Android earthquake alert system, which uses mobile phone sensors and networks like ShakeAlert To detect significant earthquakes and provide a few seconds' warning before they are felt. These options can be managed from Settings > Safety and Emergency > Earthquake Alerts or from the Location section.
Another discreet but vital element is the Emergency locator service (ELS)When you call or send an SMS to an emergency number such as 112, your mobile phone can automatically send a precise location to authorized services, provided that ELS is available in your country and you have not deactivated it.
To manage ELS, you must go to Settings > Location > Location Services > Emergency Location Service and turn the switch on or off. The system may then send anonymous information to Google about how the feature performed in order to improve it, but without including your exact location or personally identifiable information.
From the lock screen, anyone can access a reduced emergency menu by tapping on “Emergency” or “Emergencies” After turning on the screen, you can view your medical information (if you've made it visible) and call your emergency contacts without needing your PIN, which is very useful if you can't use your phone.
Additionally, Android allows Add a text message to the lock screen (For example, an alternate phone number or a relevant medical note) from Settings > Display > Lock screen > Add text. It's a small but practical detail if you lose your phone or have a serious health condition.
SafeSearch and content control in Google Search
Security isn't just about theft and physical emergencies: it's also crucial to protect what appears on your screen. SafeSearch is the Google settings that filter adult content, explicit violence, hate speech, and other inappropriate material from search results.
This filter is based on algorithms and machine learning models that analyze pages before displaying them. It is especially useful in mobile phones used by children, teenagers, or in educational settingsBut also for anyone who prefers to avoid unpleasant surprises when looking for something seemingly innocent.
However, it is important to be very clear that SafeSearch only works on Google SearchIt doesn't control other search engines, installed apps, or websites you access by typing the address directly. It's a first filter, not full parental control.
On Android you can activate it from the Google app, by tapping your profile picture and entering Settings > Privacy and security > SafeSearchIn Chrome, this can be adjusted from the website google.com/preferences, where you can choose between full filtering or blurring of explicit images.
The process is similar on iOS (iPhone or iPad): SafeSearch is activated from the Google app with the same optionsAnd in browsers like Safari or Chrome, you also use the Google preferences page to check the SafeSearch box and save changes.
Some devices show the SafeSearch option already selected and cannot be deselected. This usually indicates that There are company policies, educational centers, parental controls (Google Family Link, Screen Time) or filters at the router or DNS level. forcing it to remain active, and only the person who manages the device or network can change it.
Android 15 anti-theft protection, Identity Check and smart locks
With Android 15, Google has decided to go a step further in the fight against mobile phone theft, adding a much more aggressive anti-theft protection based on biometrics, AI and geolocationThe goal is that, even if someone gets hold of the device and knows your PIN, it will be extremely difficult for them to exploit it or hijack your accounts.
One of the key pieces is the Identity Checkwhich requires fingerprint, facial recognition or other strong factor to change sensitive settings, especially when the phone is outside your "trusted zones" such as home or work, defined by Google Maps.
Without passing that biometric verification, The PIN, password, or unlock pattern cannot be changed.Nor can you disable crucial services like Find My Device (Locator), or access Google's password manager or passkeys. This makes it extremely difficult for a thief to turn your phone into a master key for your accounts.
The anti-theft protection is configured from Settings > Google > All services > Theft protectionInside you'll find several separate functions: AI-based anti-theft lock and motion sensors, offline device lock, and lock for failed authentication attempts.
The anti-theft lock uses Accelerometers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and usage patterns to detect if someone snatches your phone out of your hands and runs awayIf it detects suspicious movement, it automatically locks the screen even if it was unlocked, reducing the window of opportunity for a thief to tamper with your apps.
To minimize false positives, this blocking It softens when you're connected to trusted networks like your home Wi-Fi or common Bluetooth devices.and takes into account how often it is locked to distinguish normal use from actual theft.
The offline device lock ensures that, If the mobile phone loses internet connection for an extended period of time, it will automatically lock.The idea is to prevent a thief from disconnecting data and Wi-Fi to continue using the device without control for hours.
Blocking due to failed authentication adds another line of defense: If it detects several incorrect PIN, pattern, or password attempts, it blocks or hardens access to the device.reducing the chances of someone guessing your code by trying combinations one after another.
In case of loss or theft, you can also resort to Remote locking via android.com/lockAfter activating the function in Anti-theft Protection, if you lose the device you only need to access that website from another device, enter your phone number, pass the reCAPTCHA and launch the blocking order, which will be executed as soon as the mobile regains connection.
Once locked remotely, It can only be unlocked with your usual screen unlock methodIf you plan to erase all data, you'll need to use the classic Locator (Find My Device) with your Google account, where you can also make it ring, display a message, or see its position on the map as long as it has battery power.
Other essential layers: Locator, backups, SIM, notifications, and passwords
Theft protection is complemented by several additional measures that you should review: the first is Find My Device or Locatorwhich allows you to locate the mobile on a map, make it ring, lock it or erase all the information if you confirm that it will not return.
In parallel, it's advisable to have your cloud backups (Google Drive, Google Photos, etc.) So that if you lose your device, recovering your data on a new one is as painless as possible. Make sure automatic backups are running and double-check exactly what's being saved.
Don't forget to write the IMEI number of the terminal, accessible from Settings > Phone informationThis unique identifier can help your carrier and the authorities to block the device at the network level or track it in case of a theft report.
It is also recommended to activate a To set a PIN on your SIM card, go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > SIM lockSo, even if someone takes the SIM out of your phone and puts it in another one, they won't be able to use your number to receive verification SMS messages or calls without knowing that PIN.
Finally, check what is shown in the lock screen notificationsespecially the content of messages and verification codes. From the Security and Privacy settings, you can configure it so that only the sender is visible, sensitive text is hidden, or nothing is displayed if the device is locked.
On the account side, Google's Password Checker helps you to Check if the passwords you store in your account are strong, if they are repeated across multiple services, or if they have appeared in data breaches.It's a tool that complements Chrome's security check and prompts you to update passwords that are no longer strong enough.
In the end, by combining the Chrome security check, Safety Check and SOS on Android, SafeSearch, ELS, Android 15 anti-theft protection, Locator, backups, and good password hygieneYou can turn both your browser and your mobile phone into a true personal digital shield. Taking the time to get everything properly set up saves you from unpleasant surprises, gives you room to maneuver in difficult situations, and, above all, offers you the peace of mind of knowing that Google isn't just for searching for things, but also for taking better care of you.