“Everyone needs it. New Android functions allow you to protect data on a smartphone in case of theft October 17, 11:35 Share: New tools will help block attackers’ access to a stolen smartphone (Photo: Google) Author: Anastasia Pechenyuk Google introduced new functions for Android gadgets that allow you to lock the device and make it impossible to obtain sensitive information and banking data in the event of a lost or stolen device. Advanced anti-theft features now available”, — write on: ua.news
New tools will help block criminals’ access to a stolen smartphone (Photo: Google)
Google introduced new features for Android gadgets that allow you to lock the device and prevent sensitive information and bank data from being obtained in case of loss or theft of the device.
Enhanced anti-theft features are now available to users worldwide with the Android 15 operating system and Google Play Store update available on devices running Android 10 and above.
This is, in particular, the function Blocking in case of detection of theft (Theft Detection Lock). It uses artificial intelligence and is able to analyze various device signals to detect potential theft attempts. If the algorithm detects a threat, the screen is locked.
“This feature will be rolled out gradually to ensure cross-device compatibility, and will work on Android devices covering 90% of active users worldwide. Periodically check the anti-theft settings page to see if your device currently supports the feature,” says Google.
In addition to Theft Detection Lock, the function of Locking the device in offline mode has been added (Offline Device Lock). This helps in cases where a thief tries to disconnect the device from the network in order to extract data or to prevent the wipe of all data using the Android feature “Find device”. If an unlocked device is left offline for a long time, this feature locks the screen to prevent thieves from using your phone.
Another function is Remote blocking (Remote Lock) — allows you to block a stolen or lost device even if the user does not remember the Google account data. It works with android.com/lock, which allows you to lock your phone using only a verified phone number. Remote lock protects the device, the user restores access through the Android function “Find device”.
“These features are now available on most devices with Android 10 and above through the Google Play Services update and must be enabled in the settings,” explains Google.
A number of other security features have appeared thanks to the update to Android 15, which has already arrived on Vivo and Pixel devices. These include: asking for a PIN, password, or biometric authentication when changing sensitive settings like Find My Device, locking the device after multiple failed sign-in attempts, and improved factory reset protection without Google account data.
Identity Verification is also coming later this year (Identity Check). When enabled, users are required to provide biometric authentication when accessing critical Google Account and device settings. This helps prevent unauthorized access, even if the device’s PIN has been obtained by an attacker.