Smartphones According to the manufacturer, Google’s Android operating system will in future be able to detect theft using artificial intelligence. Google announced at a developer conference that the cell phone will detect when a thief snatches the phone out of the owner’s hand and flees the crime scene. If the AI detects a common movement that is associated with theft, the phone’s display is immediately locked.
Google is responding to numerous incidents in which thieves managed to snatch their unlocked smartphones from passersby’s hands and then access linked online bank accounts. The screen lock activated by the AI is intended to prevent this.
The resale of stolen smartphones should also be made more difficult in the future. If a thief resets a stolen device, they will no longer be able to set it up without knowing the device or Google Account information, Google said. “This makes a stolen device unsellable, reducing incentives for phone theft.”
Special protection for sensitive data
In the event that the locking code was able to be spied out by the thief, Android can prevent a change of the PIN or a deactivation of the theft protection if this is done from an untrustworthy location, such as home or work. In this case, changes to important account and device settings must be confirmed with a biometric feature, such as a fingerprint or facial scan. In January, competitor Apple once again expanded a similar anti-theft system for the iPhone.
In addition, Android also makes it possible to set up a separate area on the smartphone for sensitive data, hide it and lock it with a separate PIN. This could be used to provide additional protection for apps containing health or financial information.
Most of the anti-theft features presented will be activated later this year via Google Play Services on smartphones with Android 10 or newer. Android 10 has been on the market since 2019. Some features like factory reset protection and private storage require Android 15, which will be introduced later this year.
Smartphones According to the manufacturer, Google’s Android operating system will in future be able to detect theft using artificial intelligence. Google announced at a developer conference that the cell phone will detect when a thief snatches the phone out of the owner’s hand and flees the crime scene. If the AI detects a common movement that is associated with theft, the phone’s display is immediately locked.
Google is responding to numerous incidents in which thieves managed to snatch their unlocked smartphones from passersby’s hands and then access linked online bank accounts. The screen lock activated by the AI is intended to prevent this.