New Android theft protection rolled out on first devices
Google wants to better protect Android devices against theft with a series of new features. They are now available on the first models.
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Google is strengthening anti-theft protection for Android smartphones with a range of new functions. According to initial media reports and Reddit users, the features are now available on some devices. Google had already announced in a blog post in May that the new features would be available later this year from Android 10 onwards.
The post also provides an overview of the new features. These include some protective measures before theft even occurs. In future, Android users will have the option of linking the resetting of their device to factory settings with the entry of their account data. This makes it almost impossible for thieves to reuse a stolen smartphone.
Protection for sensitive settings and data
Some thieves also target sensitive owner data on stolen devices. In future, Android users will be able to secure sensitive apps that contain banking or health data, for example, in a private area with an additional PIN. However, according to the blog entry, the blocking of the factory reset and the protection of sensitive apps will only come with Android 15.
It will also be made more difficult for thieves to change relevant security settings. Users will be able to define additional steps when changing important settings in order to deactivate Google's location function or the time period after which the display automatically switches off. A PIN, password or biometric verification can also be required. The Google location function is available from Android 5 onwards.
AI recognizes typical theft movements
Biometric verification can also be installed as an additional obstacle if the thief already knows the PIN. This function is intended for critical settings in your own Google account or on your own device, such as changing the PIN.
A new feature is the AI-supported use of motion sensors to detect theft attempts. If the device registers a hectic movement that could mean, for example, that the cell phone is being snatched from its owner's hand, the cell phone screen locks immediately. This is intended to make it more difficult for thieves to access the data.
Offline lock and easier device location
If a device has already fallen into the hands of thieves, it often goes offline for a while. This is where another new feature, offline lock, comes into play: if a smartphone has been offline for a longer period of time, it locks automatically and can only be unlocked with the account data of the rightful owner.
As Google writes, many users are so shocked or stressed when they lose their smartphone that they no longer remember their Google account password. In future, the user's own cell phone number and a security check from any other device will be enough to use Google's device tracking feature and mark their smartphone as stolen on Google. This feature will be available for all devices running Android 10 or higher.
First models have the functions
The new functions are now appearing on the first devices. According to a report from TheVerge, the features are already available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro. On Reddit , one user reports that AI-supported theft detection and offline locking are already available for him, but not the remote locking of his device with just his cell phone number. According to the Reddit thread, some Google Pixel users from the USA report that they can already use remote locking with a cell phone number, but not the other two functions mentioned.
If you don't have the new features yet, you can try updating Google Play Services. However, Google usually rolls out new functions step by step. This means that more models will probably get the feature soon, but for now it's a case of wait and see.
(nen)