After the beta version of Google Tested in Brazil, the initial set of anti-theft features for Android smartphones It is now Widely available– But you have to subscribe.
Why doesn’t the company automatically add protections to every compatible device? Insight from Beta testing Brazil Help the company’s developers make this decision. “We learned that users behave very differently in urban areas and in rural areas,” says Jianning Sandra Gu, Android Security & Privacy Product Manager at Google. It doesn’t want to add unnecessary friction for users who don’t care about anti-theft software.
Three features that many Android owners can enable now are: Theft detection lockOffline device lock and remote lock. Curious about using these security features on your Android smartphone? Here’s a peek at how AI detection happens and steps on how to activate anti-theft features.
How does theft detection system work on Android?
Since many thefts can be violent or involve sudden, jerky movements, Guo sought advice from Google’s activity recognition team, which worked on a somewhat similar feature available on Pixel smartphones to Car accident detection. “At a very high level, it starts with motion sensors,” she says. But an approach that focuses solely on sudden movements can lead to many false triggers, and users are more likely to find the option annoying than useful — and that’s where machine learning, the part of artificial intelligence that focuses on pattern recognition, comes into play.
Google developers researched smartphone theft methods used in different parts of the world and role-played robberies to obtain training data. “We re-enact those scenarios,” Guo says. “Then we collect the device trace.” “We use artificial intelligence to compile those traces into a model to try to predict the next time a hijacking occurs.” For Android owners, this process is done using models on device.
The AI model is not static, and the developers plan to continue adding new smartphone theft scenarios to the training data as criminals modify their behavior. And also with Global launch Through these anti-theft features, they can now learn more about how a variety of smartphone owners actually interact with these options.
How can I turn it on?
Go ahead and find out if your phone is running a recent version of the Android operating system. Your device must be turned on at least Android 10 To turn on these three features, the last one Android 15 The program gives you access to more security options. It’s an essential first step, but if you haven’t already done so, also add a passcode to your device by going to your privacy settings.
Next, open Settings The application on your phone and search for it Protection against theft. Opening this tab will reveal the three lock screen security features. “It’s very common for a cell phone to assume that the person who has access to it is the rightful owner,” says Joe. By adding more ways to activate the lock screen, users have more protection if their phone is seized while unlocking it. when Theft detection lock When turned on, the screen will automatically lock if it detects a potential burglary, based on movement patterns as well as whether your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network remains connected.
with Lock device offline Activated, your phone will go to the lock screen, up to twice a day, if the Internet is suddenly turned off for a period of time or Airplane Mode is activated. “From our market research, this is a common attack they perform after taking over an unlocked device,” says Joe. Why do thieves do this? When the device is offline, it cannot be Remote reset via Find My Device To erase your personal information from the device.
The third lock screen security option available on this page is Remote lock. You’ll have to click on the name to see this toggle, unlike the first two options. This feature is designed to give you a quick and easy-to-access option to lock your phone via visit android.com/lock On any device and enter your phone number. However, Remote Lock will only work twice a day and is activated when the smartphone is connected to the Internet.
