Android's new antitheft feature is now in testing
What specific features of Android 15’s automatic theft detection were highlighted during the I/O developer conference?
During the I/O developer conference, Google highlighted several features of Android 15's automatic theft detection:
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AI-powered Theft Detection Lock: This feature uses artificial intelligence to detect motions associated with theft, such as grabbing the phone and bolting, biking, or driving away1. If such motions are detected, the phone's screen will quickly lock, making it harder for the thief to access your data.
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Remote Lock: This is a fallback feature that lets you quickly lock your handset if someone manages to take it without triggering the Theft Detection Lock. You can remotely lock the phone's screen from any device using just your phone number and completing a "quick security challenge."
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Offline Device Lock: This feature automatically locks your phone's screen — requiring authentication to unlock — when it's off the grid. It is designed to counter thieves who quickly take a stolen device offline before the owner can lock or wipe it remotely.
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Factory Reset Protection Update: An update to factory reset protection will require your credentials to use the phone after a data wipe, reducing the incentives for thieves to steal it in the first place.
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Extra Authentication for Account Security Settings: Similar to a feature Apple rolled out earlier this year, Android 15 will also require extra authentication when trying to change account security settings (changing the PIN, disabling theft protection, or accessing Passkeys) from an untrusted location.
Why was Brazil chosen as the initial testing ground for Android 15's theft detection features?
Brazil was chosen as the initial testing ground for Android 15's theft detection features due to local feedback from users in the country, as it is an apparent hotbed for smartphone snatching3. This makes it an ideal location to test the effectiveness of the Theft Detection Lock feature in real-world scenarios.
How does the Theft Detection Lock feature use AI to determine potential theft incidents?
The Theft Detection Lock feature in Android 15 uses AI to analyze data from the device's internal sensors, such as the accelerometer and gyroscope, to detect sudden changes in the phone's positioning and motion that might indicate it has been snatched. The AI algorithms have been trained to recognize specific patterns associated with theft, such as grabbing the phone, changing hands, and the attacker running, biking, or driving away with the device. By detecting these motions and contextual cues, the AI can determine if the phone has potentially been stolen and automatically lock the screen to protect the user's data.