We often walk down streets staring at the smartphone. Boom... someone grabs the device and runs off with it. iOS and Android both have safeguards in place to track and lock phones remotely. Google is taking a new step with the upcoming Android feature called Theft Detection Lock. When triggered, the AI-powered feature will automatically lock the device.
“If a common motion associated with theft is detected, your phone screen quickly locks — which keeps thieves from easily accessing your data,” said Suzanne Frey, vice-president, product, trust and growth, Google. A possible trigger to the option can be if the phone starts moving quickly in the opposite direction.
The company is also adding an Offline Device Lock feature, designed to protect the device if it’s disconnected from the network.
Also coming is a feature that makes it more difficult for thieves to factory reset your device remotely: “With this upgrade, if a thief forces a reset of the stolen device, they’re not able to set it up again without knowing your device or Google account credentials. This renders a stolen device unsellable, reducing incentives for phone theft.”
Google’s new protections around factory resets will launch with Android 15, while a few of the other features will be available later this year. Other security-related updates to Android 15 includes hiding notifications and one-time passwords; it is helpful if you are sharing your phone’s screen with others.
