Whether it’s because of festivals, visits to the beach, the mountains or new cities, during the summer the number of mobile phone thefts increases. And while there are strategies that we can carry out ourselves, there are others that are beyond us. And device manufacturers and software developers are among them. With this in mind, Google, responsible for the most widely used operating system globally, has presented A new theft detection locking tool for Android phones.
This new update would arrive with Android 15 and The function would detect the movement of a device (such as someone snatching a phone and then running, cycling or driving) and would immediately lock the screen, Google explains.
How does this blocking work? Google explains that AI uses the mobile’s gyroscope and accelerometer to detect “common movements associated with theft”. It was not specified exactly what those movements are, but it is likely to be a quick jerk or shake followed by a rapid acceleration. If the tool detects those movements, it immediately locks your phone’s screen.
For now the function is being rolling out to a limited number of users in Brazil who signed up for Google’s beta program. When the feature fully rolls out, it will likely start with Google’s newest phones, but will eventually be available on all devices running Android 10+, or essentially any modern Android phone.
Google bundled the anti-theft detection tool with several other security additions to protect your data “before, during, and after a theft,” including:
Make it be harder to reset a phone to factory settings and set it up with a new account
Private spaces for Hide sensitive apps
The ability to Mark your phone as lost in Find My Device to make it easier to track
Automatic lock for excessive failed authentications
The ability to lock your phone if it is offline
Remote lockwhich lets you lock your phone screen using just your number and a quick security challenge.
These functions could be complemented by other functions installed by mobile phone manufacturers and could also be extended to other devices such as smart watches, tablets and even laptops.