Outlook Business Desk
Tech giant, Google says phone theft increasingly exposes users to financial fraud, identity abuse and private information leaks, not just hardware loss. These growing risks have pushed Android to introduce stronger, theft-focused security protections.
In a blog post published on January 27, the Android security team outlined updates that protect devices before, during and after theft attempts, spreading features across Android 16 and earlier supported versions.
Android now allows users to enable or disable the Failed Authentication Lock from device settings. The feature locks phones after repeated incorrect unlock attempts, offering flexibility while keeping default security protections in place.
Google has widened Identity Check to require biometric authentication for all apps that rely on Android’s biometric prompt when a device is outside trusted locations, extending added security to banking apps and password management tools.
Android will extend lockout durations after several incorrect PIN or pattern attempts, making brute-force guessing harder. At the same time, repeated identical wrong entries will not count against users, reducing accidental lockouts.
Android has added an optional security question to its Remote Lock feature. This extra verification step helps ensure only the phone’s owner can lock the device remotely, limiting misuse during stressful theft situations.
Google has turned on theft protection by default for new Android devices activated in Brazil. Theft Detection Lock uses on-device AI to spot snatch thefts, while Remote Lock functions even without prior user setup.
Together, these updates show Android moving toward built-in, layered theft defence. By protecting access points, recovery tools and sensitive data, Google aims to reduce the real-world impact of phone theft.