We're still waiting for Android 15 to become available to users (it should be available starting next month), but a new security feature has been spotted in the beta version of the software that will make it harder for unwanted visitors to break into your phone.
Digging into the latest Android 15 beta code, Android Authority revealed something called “Identity Verification.” According to the accompanying instructions, it appears that biometric verifications will be used by default in certain situations.
So, for example, if someone looks over your shoulder at a coffee shop and sees you entering your PIN, they won't be able to use that PIN to access your device – they'll have to use facial or fingerprint recognition.
According to another hidden code discovery made by well-known tipster @AssembleDebug, it appears that this mandatory biometric verification could be triggered whenever you're outside of locations you've marked as “trusted,” such as your home or office.
Thank you, Apple
Trusted places for mandatory biometrics What could this be? pic.twitter.com/fcj13x1BEtSeptember 13, 2024
This ties in pretty well with Android's theft detection feature that's already started rolling out to devices and isn't exclusive to Android 15: it automatically locks your phone whenever it detects motion that might mean it's been pinched.
Identity Check protection also falls in line with something iPhones already have, in the form of Apple Stolen Device Protection, introduced in iOS 17.3. This means certain key security actions require Face ID or Touch ID to work, not just your iPhone’s passcode.
Android 15 is now complete and ready to go, but engineers at Google, Samsung, and other Android phone makers are putting the finishing touches on the software and adapting it for their own phones with additional tools and features.
The latest Pixel phones, including the Google Pixel 9, should be the first to receive Android 15 when it arrives. In addition to new security features, it will also feature a number of additional customization options.
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