Google To Give Your Android Phone New Anti-Theft Tools

Google has just announced some new features that should help users protect their Android device alongside the valuable data it has, in case it gets stolen. These features would allow users to help thwart a thief’s attempts to resell a device or gain access to its data.

Considering the current artificial intelligence frenzy, AI plays a crucial role in one of the new features Google has rolled out. Dubbed Theft Detection Lock, the feature uses AI to determine if someone has snatched a user’s phone out of their hand and then tried to escape by running, driving, or cycling. If the Android smartphone detects a similar sequence of events, it will automatically lock the phone, denying access to everything contained within it.

Another tool that will help users in such a scenario is Offline Device Lock. This feature will automatically lock the device’s screen if it has been disconnected from the internet for a long duration. It will also lock the screen if several unsuccessful authentication attempts have been made.

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Google Wants To Protect Users’ Data From Thieves

If a user’s phone is already been snatched, the Remote Lock feature will enable them to lock its screen using their phone number. They can do this from any device after passing a security challenge. This also means that users don’t need to remember their Google account password when things go haywire.

These new features will come into play after a user’s device has been stolen, but Google has also added means to deter criminals from ever taking their Android phone in the first place.

For instance, if an Android device is reset to factory settings, a thief will need to know their device or Google account credentials. If they don’t they won’t be able to get any further, making it very difficult for them to wipe their device and sell it off. Moreover, disabling Find My Device will now require either a PIN or biometric authentication. This trims the chances of a bad actor hiding the device’s location from the user.

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Google Launches New Private Space Feature

Google has also launched a new “private space” feature for Android. This enables users to set up a dedicated area on their phone that can be hidden and protected with another PIN from their phone’s main credentials. Users can then use this private space to store apps that might have sensitive data that a thief would want access to, such as medical or banking information.

Also, a new ‘enhanced authentication’ setting will require a biometric check when key Google account and device settings are accessed from an untrusted location, such as disabling theft protection features or accessing users’ passkeys.