Google has announced a new anti-theft feature for Android smartphones that utilizes artificial intelligence to recognize when a thief steals the phone and prevent unauthorized access. The AI will detect common movements associated with theft and immediately lock the phone’s display. This feature comes in response to incidents where thieves have stolen smartphones and used them to access online bank accounts linked to the devices.
To further enhance security, Google has also added a protective measure to prevent stolen devices from being resold by requiring device or Google account information to set up a reset device. Additionally, Google is introducing additional security measures, including preventing the PIN from being changed or theft protection from being deactivated without biometric confirmation, making stolen devices unsellable.
Android users will also have the option to set up a separate, secure area on their smartphones for sensitive data, further protecting their information. Most of these anti-theft features will be activated later this year through Google Play Services on smartphones running Android 10 or newer. More advanced features, like factory reset protection and private storage, will require Android 12, set to be released later this year. Users can expect enhanced security measures to protect their devices and data from theft and unauthorized access.
