Android rolls out three groundbreaking theft protection tools but only certain phones are eligible
Google are rolling out the new anti-theft features this week
Android is rolling out three groundbreaking theft protection tools that only certain phones will be eligible for.
It looks like Google is stepping up its game when it comes to device security but only some Android users will benefit from it.
This week will see the first roll outs of theft protection tools that have long been promised to users.
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However, these will only be making their way to select devices.
Three major features included with the function include Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock.
Android news journalist Mishaal Rahman took to X, formerly Twitter, to share more information about the rollout.
He said: “Google is starting to roll out Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock to Android users in the US!
“I just checked my Xiaomi 14T Pro and noticed that I have Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock but not Remote Lock. Some Pixel users in the US tell me they have Remote Lock but not the other two.
“Theft Detection Lock uses a ML model to detect when someone snatches your phone from your hand and tries to run away with it on foot, by bike, or by car. If detected, your phone will automatically lock, blocking unwanted access to your apps and data.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
The aim is that the tools will give users more control when their smartphones are stolen, meaning that they can quickly lock down the device, even when it’s offline.
The Theft Detection Lock makes use of Google AI to detect when your device has been physically taken out of your hands.
This will trigger the phone to immediately lock, while Remote Lock means that you’ll be able to lock your device from a distance so, if you realize it’s been stolen after the event, you can still lock it down.
This is a feature that’s already available through Google’s Find My Device but now you won’t need to log into your Google account to do it.