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ZDNET Highlights
- Android is getting advanced theft protection features.
- The update includes expanded identity checks and remote lock.
- Features available now.
Google announced A new set of theft protection feature updates will be updated for Android on Tuesday to help reduce the hassle if your phone is ever lost.
Also: Your Android phone’s most powerful security feature is turned off by default – turn it on ASAP
Since our phones hold so much important information these days, the cost of replacing the device is really the least of your problems if your phone falls into the wrong hands. Today’s updates not only make it more difficult for a nefarious actor to unlock your phone, but they also bring significant protections to critical apps and make it harder for anyone else to lock your phone.
See what’s new here.
better unlock security
One of the biggest new features is stronger protection against screen lock guessing. By increasing the lockout time after failed attempts, Google has made it more difficult for someone else to guess your phone’s PIN, pattern or password.
Of course, mistakes still happen if you forget your credentials or if your child gets hold of your phone, similar miscalculations won’t count toward your retry limit.
Extended Identity Check
A year ago, Android introduced Identity Check, a feature that automatically locks your sensitive settings with biometric authentication when you’re outside a trusted area. The tool now covers all features and apps that use the Android biometric prompt – including financial apps and Google Password Manager.
To enable it, find “Identity Check” in your Android’s Settings and follow the prompts.
advanced remote lock
Android also says it’s giving you more control over Remote Lock, a tool that lets you lock your lost or stolen device from any web browser. You now have the ability to add a security question/challenge to the process, ensuring that only you, the actual device owner, can initiate the lock.
You can lock a phone going to this page And entering your phone number (provided you have the remote locked and your device is online).
More control over failed authentication
Failed Authentication Lock, first seen in Android 15, is a feature that automatically locks your device’s screen if excessive
Authentication attempt failed. To give you more control over your security, this feature now has a dedicated enable/disable toggle in the Settings menu.
These updates are now available for Android devices running Android 16+.
