Google Starts Adding Anti-Theft Locking Features to Android Phones (engadget.com)
(Sunday October 06, 2024 @11:34AM (EditorDavid)
from the locked-screens dept.)
- Reference: 0175198105
- News link: https://it.slashdot.org/story/24/10/06/0140232/google-starts-adding-anti-theft-locking-features-to-android-phones
- Source link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-theft-protection-features-have-started-showing-up-for-some-android-users-210634941.html
An anonymous reader shared [1]this report from Engadget :
> Three new [2]theft protection features that Google [3]announced earlier this year have reportedly started rolling out on Android. The tools — Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock — are aimed at giving users a way to quickly lock down their devices if they've been swiped, so thieves can't access any sensitive information. Android reporter Mishaal Rahman [4]shared on social media that the first two tools had popped up on a Xiaomi 14T Pro, and said some Pixel users have started seeing Remote Lock.
>
> Theft Detection Lock is triggered by the literal act of snatching. The company said in May that the feature "uses Google AI to sense if someone snatches your phone from your hand and tries to run, bike or drive away." In such a scenario, it'll lock the phone's screen.
The Android reporter summarized the other two locking features in [5]a post on Reddit :
Remote Lock "lets you remotely lock your phone using just your phone number in case you can't sign into Find My Device using your Google account password."
Offline Device Lock "automatically locks your screen if a thief tries to keep your phone disconnected from the Internet for an extended period of time."
"All three features entered beta in August, starting in Brazil. Google told me the final versions of these features would more widely roll out this year, and it seems the features have begun expanding."
[1] https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-theft-protection-features-have-started-showing-up-for-some-android-users-210634941.html
[2] https://www.engadget.com/android-15-will-make-it-harder-for-phone-thieves-to-steal-your-data-170037992.html
[3] https://blog.google/products/android/android-theft-protection/
[4] https://www.threads.net/@mishaal_rahman/post/DAvsUr-vliG?xmt=AQGzBhUX9k3B7KBxsuyG3h0vSEW0gqNaMm8vdt4U8MEcXA
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1fwg6oc/google_is_starting_to_roll_out_theft_detection/
> Three new [2]theft protection features that Google [3]announced earlier this year have reportedly started rolling out on Android. The tools — Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock — are aimed at giving users a way to quickly lock down their devices if they've been swiped, so thieves can't access any sensitive information. Android reporter Mishaal Rahman [4]shared on social media that the first two tools had popped up on a Xiaomi 14T Pro, and said some Pixel users have started seeing Remote Lock.
>
> Theft Detection Lock is triggered by the literal act of snatching. The company said in May that the feature "uses Google AI to sense if someone snatches your phone from your hand and tries to run, bike or drive away." In such a scenario, it'll lock the phone's screen.
The Android reporter summarized the other two locking features in [5]a post on Reddit :
Remote Lock "lets you remotely lock your phone using just your phone number in case you can't sign into Find My Device using your Google account password."
Offline Device Lock "automatically locks your screen if a thief tries to keep your phone disconnected from the Internet for an extended period of time."
"All three features entered beta in August, starting in Brazil. Google told me the final versions of these features would more widely roll out this year, and it seems the features have begun expanding."
[1] https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-theft-protection-features-have-started-showing-up-for-some-android-users-210634941.html
[2] https://www.engadget.com/android-15-will-make-it-harder-for-phone-thieves-to-steal-your-data-170037992.html
[3] https://blog.google/products/android/android-theft-protection/
[4] https://www.threads.net/@mishaal_rahman/post/DAvsUr-vliG?xmt=AQGzBhUX9k3B7KBxsuyG3h0vSEW0gqNaMm8vdt4U8MEcXA
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1fwg6oc/google_is_starting_to_roll_out_theft_detection/
I don't get it (Score:2)
by Baron_Yam ( 643147 )
Who doesn't set their phone to lock after 30 seconds of inactivity, and who doesn't just reflexively hit the lock button when they're done using their phone anyway?
Re: (Score:2)
by denpun ( 1607487 )
[1]https://www.youtube.com/result... [youtube.com]
[1] https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=london+bicycle+phone+theft
So ... (Score:2)
... someone else could remotely lock my phone just by knowing my phone number?
> Remote Lock "lets you remotely lock your phone using just your phone number in case you can't sign into Find My Device using your Google account password."
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, that's exactly what they did. I have locked every phone from 000-000-0000 to 999-999-9999.
FTA: (Score:2)
"Remote Lock, you can (you guessed it) remotely lock the phoneâ(TM)s screen from any device with only your phone number and the completion of a âoequick security challenge.â"
The "quick security challenge" probably being the password and/or recovery phrases you set up 3 years ago and have zero idea what they are. And thats assuming you can access "any device". I doubt a stranger in the street is just going to give you their phone for you to do it on and cybercafes are a thing of the past so un