TechGoogle's new AI-powered theft detection lock to secure smartphones

Google's new AI‑powered theft detection lock to secure smartphones

Google is tackling daring smartphone thefts by developing new security features to complicate thieves’ efforts. One such feature is the AI-based Theft Detection Lock.

Google's new AI-powered theft detection lock to secure smartphones
Images source: © East News | Marek BAZAK/East News

16 May 2024 07:02

Nowadays, losing a phone means more than just losing an expensive gadget; it equates to losing access to crucial data. Our smartphones contain bank apps, home monitoring systems, emails, and applications for controlling home networks and devices. The impact of losing a phone to a thief, especially one who brazenly grabs it from our hands on the street, can be profoundly severe.

Theft involving electric bicycles or motorcycles has become rampant in Western European cities. Google plans to combat this issue by implementing new features into the Android operating system. These features were unveiled at the Google I/O 2024 conference and are slated to be released later in the year.

The Detection Lock - Google's anti-theft solution

The centrepiece of these innovations is a theft detection lock system powered by artificial intelligence. This system is designed to detect sudden, unusual movements indicative of theft, such as the phone being snatched from the hand and quickly moved in the opposite direction. Upon detecting such behaviour, the smartphone automatically locks itself, blocking the thief’s access to the user's data.

More anti-theft features

Google is not stopping with just one feature. To further deter the resale of stolen smartphones, the company is introducing more security measures: Offline Device Lock and Factory Reset Protection.
The Offline Device Lock feature will lock the phone if it is deliberately disconnected from the network following multiple failed authentication attempts. Factory Reset Protection is designed to prevent a thief from resetting the device to its factory settings without the Google account details. Both the Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock will be accessible on all devices running Android 10 and above, but the enhanced lock feature preventing a factory reset will only be available on Android 15.
© Daily Wrap
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.