Back in May we heard about a new theft detection lock feature coming to Android phones, and the functionality is apparently now rolling out to users, adding an extra level of protection should someone steal your phone.
Well-known tipster Mishaal Rahman has discovered this fact and it seems that Brazil will be the first to receive the update. The rest of the world should catch up in no time: Google had said that the feature would appear on phones “later”, in 2024.
In Google's words, Theft Detection Lock will “automatically recognize suspicious signals and proactively protect data on your device.” In other words, it detects when someone has stolen your phone and takes action.
AI algorithms are being used to identify when a phone has been stolen: Google says the AI is looking for “common movements associated with theft,” which likely means a quick yank followed by a quick trip away from the scene.
Block it
Android's Theft Detection Lock feature is finally starting to roll out! The feature automatically locks your phone when it detects that it's been snatched from your hand. It uses data from your phone's accelerometer and gyroscope and checks to see if common movements associated with… pic.twitter.com/tQcoZdpDs9August 16, 2024
As the name suggests, theft detection lock will lock your phone if there's a chance that theft is taking place. If Android thinks your phone has been stolen but it hasn't, all you'll need to do is unlock it again to get back to your apps.
The feature will be coming to all devices running Android 10 or higher, so most modern devices will be covered. If you have a non-Google phone, it may take a little longer to reach your device.
This is actually part of a set of protection features that are being built into Android. The phone will also lock itself if there are too many failed authentication attempts in a row or if the phone is offline for an extended period of time.
Additionally, whether you use Android or iOS, you should make sure your phone is registered with the built-in location tracking feature – this means you'll be able to remotely lock and even wipe your phone if it's lost or stolen.
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