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Elevate Magazine
May 30, 2024

Google Launches AI-Powered Anti-Theft Features for Android Phones

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Google is rolling out advanced AI-driven safety features in Android that can automatically lock your phone if it’s stolen.

At its I/O developer conference, Google announced that billions of Android devices will soon be equipped with new tools to thwart phone thieves and secure personal information. These enhancements will utilise artificial intelligence to detect when a phone has been forcibly taken and lock it immediately, offering robust security upgrades to protect stolen phones.

These improvements, some launching with Android 15 and others compatible with older versions, reflect a broader industry trend toward integrating additional security measures to combat the prevalent issue of phone theft and safeguard user data. Beyond anti-theft features, Android 15 will introduce real-time monitoring of app permissions to detect suspicious activities.

Phone theft is a widespread problem worldwide. In London, for instance, a phone is stolen every six minutes. Thieves often snatch devices from hands, bags, or use techniques to learn the phone’s PIN before stealing it. Stolen phones can be resold, disassembled for parts, or used to access sensitive apps like banking or cryptocurrency platforms.

“Thieves are not only interested in the physical device but increasingly in the valuable data stored within,” says Jianing Sandra Guo, an Android security and privacy product manager at Google. If locked, stolen phones are often used to send phishing messages to obtain login details.

theft protection
Photo courtesy: The Verge

Google’s new anti-theft features aim to enhance protection before, during, and after a theft, with artificial intelligence playing a crucial role. The new Theft Detection Lock uses AI to recognise when a phone has been snatched, locking the screen instantly. This is achieved by analysing data from sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope to detect abrupt movements indicative of theft.

Guo explains that thieves often attempt to bypass security by opening the camera app if they don’t know the PIN or disconnecting the phone from networks to prevent remote locking. Google’s Offline Device Lock will activate if the phone remains offline for an extended period, provided the feature is enabled.

remote lock
Photo courtesy: Google

To prevent unauthorised use before a phone is stolen, Google is introducing new data protection features. Firstly, phones cannot be set up after a factory reset without the owner’s login details, making stolen devices unsellable. Additionally, a new “private spaces” option will store sensitive apps requiring a second PIN or biometric authentication. Extra authentication controls will also require the phone’s PIN or biometric data to disable Google’s Find My Device service. If a thief knows the PIN, biometric authentication will be needed to change important settings.

These measures, akin to Apple’s Stolen Device Protection system in iOS 17.3, aim to protect stored information and complicate reselling or exploiting stolen phones. Making theft less profitable may help reduce the incidence of phone thefts.

Android already supports remote locking and wiping of stolen devices, but the experience of being robbed can be disorienting, leaving victims unable to remember their login details. Google’s new Remote Lock feature allows users to lock their phone using just a phone number, providing immediate protection and buying time for further action to be taken.

The factory reset protections will be available with Android 15, while other features will roll out later this year. Google aims to support these features on Android versions as old as 10, wherever possible.

play protect 1
Photo courtesy: wikiHow

Beyond anti-theft measures, Android 15 will include additional security and privacy updates. Google Play Protect, which scans billions of apps daily for malware, will now perform live scanning to detect suspicious behaviour more effectively. “With live threat detection, Google Play Protect’s on-device AI will analyse additional behavioural signals related to the use of sensitive permissions and interactions with other apps and services,” writes Dave Kleidermacher, a Google vice president.

Other updates include hiding notifications and one-time passwords during screen sharing, concealing login details during app or website logins while sharing the screen, and alerting users about unencrypted connections or potential IMSI catchers that might be intercepting phone data.