Android Phones Are Getting More Anti-Theft Features (techcrunch.com)
- Reference: 0180665942
- News link: https://it.slashdot.org/story/26/01/27/1740254/android-phones-are-getting-more-anti-theft-features
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/27/android-phones-are-getting-more-anti-theft-features/
> Google on Tuesday announced [1]an expanded set of Android theft-protection features , designed to make its mobile devices less of a target for criminals. Building on existing tools like Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and others introduced in 2024, the newly launched updates include stronger authentication safeguards and enhanced recovery tools, the company said.
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> [...] With the new features, users of Android devices running Android 16 or higher will have more control over the Failed Authentication Lock feature that automatically locks the device after an excessive number of failed login attempts. Now users will have access to a dedicated on/off toggle switch in the device's settings. The devices will also offer stronger protection against a thief trying to guess a device owner's PIN, pattern, or password by increasing the lockout time after failed attempts. Plus, Identity Check, a feature rolled out for Android 15 and higher last year, now covers all features and apps that use biometrics -- like banking apps or the Google Password Manager.
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/27/android-phones-are-getting-more-anti-theft-features/
Give me (Score:2, Funny)
A fingerprint based taser. Can't nick it if you can't hold it!
Re: (Score:2)
That sounds painful--for me! I finally turned off fingerprint authentication on my phone because, half the time, it couldn't read *my* fingerprints!
I thought everyone upgraded to iphones (Score:2)
Iphones are the future, and the past.
Re: (Score:3)
Mostly the past. I think what's going on in the US, Israel and Australia is a good example of why you don't want your ass chip tied to a single entity you can't change.
Re:I thought everyone upgraded to iphones (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not surprising to me that Apple uses might think the whole world uses iPhones. That's exactly how the Apple marketing machine has worked to make it feel. The reality is, just over half of smartphone users in the US, use iPhone. Just under half use Android.
I have *never* been tempted to switch from Android to Apple. IMO it's a worse experience, and way, *way* more expensive. Moto G phones are less than $200 unlocked, and they have plenty of power and features to keep up with the best of them, well, maybe unless you want one of those fancy tri-fold phones.
Re: (Score:2)
For me personally, though, my preferred option would be to not have a cell phone. Unfortunately, everything is either an app or needs a fucking app or needs to send you an SMS message for secuiaraiaity (marketing) reasons.
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed, really.
I do make use of the SoC on my costly S-series Samsung; it makes an excellent video recorder and monitor while I primarily shoot photos on my Canon mirrorless camera. But Apple brings nothing but restrictions to the table, even to the point that their devices can't be used for arbitrary file storage and don't allow third party web browsers. There's nothing they're doing that's worth dealing with the lock-in from having one.
Re: (Score:3)
I think the iPhone has never been in a worse place. Liquid Glass is overwhelmingly disliked by users, the software is buggier than it's ever been and Android phones (specifically Pixel) have surpassed it in photo quality (though the consensus seems to be iPhone still holds the lead in video).
The problem is that as Android has gotten better, iPhone, or more specifically iOS, has gotten considerably worse. And I say that as an iPhone owner.
Airplane mode behind device lock (Score:4, Insightful)
How about putting the airplane mode switch behind the device lock so a thief can't grab your phone and immediately put it in airplane mode to stop it being tracked?
Standard on Samsung phones, inexplicably not on Google Pixel (I have both).
Re: (Score:2)
Because it's trivial to circumvent this security feature with a Faraday bag.
I don't want forced biometry and tracking on my ph (Score:3)
It's terrible enough that every time i want to use revolut app i have to temporarily enable pin "5555" so i can even open the app because apps can now information about whether phone lock protection is enabled or not
What is old, is gone. (Score:2)
> Now users will have access to a dedicated on/off toggle switch in the device's settings.
It's a shame the audience taking that a bit too literally, is dying off with the concept of an actual on/off switch.