Google Rolls Out Advanced Anti-Theft Features for Android Devices

Android's Awesome New Theft Protection and Remote Lock Arrived

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. Back at Google I/O, Google announced a big set of security features called Theft Protection that would be coming soon to Android. They didn't say at the time exactly when we'd see these features, but like with the new Google Photos AI search, folks started noticing a rollout over the weekend. The new Android Theft Protection is made up of a Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and a Remote Lock. The point, as each name suggests, is to give you a set of tools that can quickly lock down your device if it is stolen. From using AI to automatically detect theft or recognizing that it has been offline and should be locked just in case, all of this is a new level of protection on Android. On phone, Google describes Theft Protection as using "built-in safeguards to protect your personal data if your device is stolen." They then breakdown each of its 3 features and previously described them as follows: Once they hit your device, they will likely be turned off, so if this stuff sounds like it might come in handy, you'll need to go looking for it. To find these settings, you'll head into Settings and search for "Theft protection." You could also find them in the Google section of settings under "Personal & device safety," but searching is going to get you there the fastest.

Google Is Rolling Out These Three Anti-Theft Features for Androids

Back in May, we learned Google was planning some interesting security features for devices running Android 10 and newer. These options were specifically designed for stopping thieves from accessing your smartphone's data should it be stolen, which is quite useful -- even if they might not necessarily prevent that theft in the first place. Six months later, it looks like those features are rolling out globally. Tech reporter Mishaal Rahman first shared this news in a post on r/Android. Rahman said they saw two of the features, Theft Detection Lock and Offline Detection Lock, appear on their Xiaomi 14T Pro on Friday. Other users commented saying they also had the third feature, Remote Lock. While at the time it looked like the rollout was isolated to the US, it now appears as if these features are releasing globally. If you have an Android device, be on the lookout for these three new anti-theft features: Theft Detection Lock As advertised, Google's Theft Detection Lock is honestly pretty cool: The feature uses AI to detect if someone grabs your phone out of your hands and tries to away by running, biking, or driving. The AI is trained on "common motion associated with theft," and if it detects this, Android will lock up your phone. Unless the thief knows your smartphone's PIN, that effectively means they're out of luck getting into your device. In effect, they'll have just stolen a very expensive paperweight. Remote Lock Let's say Theft Detection Lock didn't kick in, and your phone is vulnerable to whoever stole it. No problem: You can lock your phone remotely using Find My Device -- provided you know your Google Account password. If you're pulling a blank, and can't remember it, there's now a backup option: Using Remote Lock, you can verify yourself by using your phone number and completing a "quick security challenge" on any device. That way, you can remotely lock up your phone, even if you've forgotten your credentials in your panic. Offline Device Lock Remote Lock is a great option, but it does require your phone to be connected to network access in order to function. If the thief purposely disconnects your device, however, you won't be able to communicate with it, and Remote Lock won't work. Google's new Offline Device Lock feature aims to fix that vulnerability. If Android detects that your phone has been disconnected for a "prolonged period of time," it will automatically lock itself. One minute, your thief thinks they have all the time in the world to steal your data. The next, they're screwed. Obviously, none of these options are going to stop a theft from occurring. But these three features will help preserve your data: By locking up your phone, you block a thief from accessing your photos, banking info, contacts, and anything else you happen to store on your device. Getting the phone itself back may be a challenge, but at least your information will be secure.

Android is rolling out 3 new theft protection tools -- use them if your phone gets stolen

Google is stepping up its device security game for Android users, with long-promised theft protection tools that are beginning to make their way to select devices this week. Spotted by Android journalist Mishaal Rahman on X (formerly Twitter), the rollout introduces three major features: Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock. Initially spotted on devices like the Xiaomi 14T Pro and some Pixel models, these tools aim to give users more control when their phones are stolen, offering quick lockdown options even when the device is offline. The new features are designed to be straightforward. Theft Detection Lock leverages Google's AI to sense when your phone is physically snatched from your hands, locking the device instantly. If the thief cuts off internet access, Offline Device Lock kicks in, keeping your phone secured even when it's not connected. Then there's Remote Lock, which simplifies locking your phone from a distance. While you can already do this with Google's Find My Device, Remote Lock eliminates the hassle of logging into your Google account. Instead, you just enter your phone number and pass a quick security check to lock things down. According to Rahman, these features are being rolled out globally and will be available on all phones running Android 10 or higher.

Android's latest security feature will lock out devices when detecting "motion associated with theft"

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Something to look forward to: Losing your device to theft is more than just a financial hit, there's the hassle of remote wiping it so that no one gets access to your private data and photos, and perhaps even canceling saved payment methods. It's a real headache. But there's good news for Android users: new anti-theft features are rolling out, designed to take some of the worry off your shoulders. Google announced a trio of new theft protection features for Android earlier this year, designed to help secure your device if it's lost or stolen. After launching in beta in Brazil in August, these safeguards are now gradually making their way to more countries, including the United States. Some users are already seeing them show up on their phones. In a Threads post on Friday, Mishaal Rahman shared that his Xiaomi 14T Pro shows the new Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock features, though Remote Lock was missing. As for what they have in store, the coolest of the three has to be Theft Detection Lock. It uses AI and machine learning models to detect "common motion associated with theft" like if someone forcibly grabs the phone out of your hand, then bikes or drives away. When it picks up on those jerky movements, it will automatically lock the device, rendering it useless to whomever snatched it. Then there's Offline Device Lock which, as the name implies, can lock down your phone's screen even when it's offline and not connected to the internet. Google says this kicks in if "a thief tries to disconnect your phone for prolonged periods of time" in an attempt to bypass security by cutting off network access. The third anti-theft tool is Remote Lock. This one comes in handy if you're sure your phone is gone for good and you want to brick it from anywhere. Just head to android.com/lock, enter your number, and answer a security challenge to remotely lock the screen. To check if your particular Android phone is among those with early access to these theft protection features, just search "theft protection" in your settings app or navigate to Settings > Google > Personal & device safety. As of now, some users are only seeing one or two of the three locks enabled. The rollout appears to be somewhat random at this early stage. Reports indicate the full set of anti-theft locks is visible on Pixels in the Google Play services beta program but not everyone's seeing it.

An anti-theft upgrade is coming to Android phones. Here's how to see if you have it

Your Android phone should receive an AI-powered anti-theft upgrade soon that helps keep your personal information safe. In May, Google teased a new Theft Detection Lock tool for Android phones. The feature senses a device's motion -- such as someone snatching a phone and then running, biking, or driving away -- and immediately locks the screen, Google said. Also: 5 nearly hidden Android features you should already be using According to a Reddit post from Android journalist Mishaal Rahman, Theft Detection Lock is finally rolling out on a wider scale. "I just checked my Xiaomi 14T Pro and noticed that I have Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock but not Remote Lock," he wrote. "Some Pixel users in the US tell me they have Remote Lock but not the other two." Many users responded that they had some or all of the features. You can see which of the features you have by going to your phone's settings menu and searching for "anti-theft". Also: How to turn your old Android phone into a security or pet camera So, how does the theft detection feature work? Google explains that AI uses your phone's gyroscope and accelerometer to watch for "common motion associated with theft". Exactly what those motions are isn't detailed, but it's likely a quick jerk or jolt followed by rapid acceleration. If the tool detects those motions, it immediately locks your phone screen. The anti-theft detection tool is one of several security additions Google announced earlier this year to protect your data "before, during and after a theft", including:

Google Rolls Out New AI Security Features For Android To Stop Phone Snatchers

Google may be rolling out a new set of security features for Android that could help if someone grabs your phone and runs away. Mishaal Rahman, an independent Android expert, claimed in a post on Threads that Google is currently rolling out Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock to Android users in the US at the time of writing. The new Theft Detection Lock feature reportedly uses Machine Learning (ML) "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 the AI thinks this is truly a case of snatch and grab, the phone will lock automatically, potentially stopping the criminal from getting unwanted access to your apps and your data. Offline Device Lock will automatically try and lock down your screen if it suspects a thief is trying to keep your phone "disconnected from the Internet for an extended period." Another feature, Remote Lock will allow you to lock down your stolen phone using only your mobile number. This could come in handy if find yourself unable to access Google's "Find My Device Feature" in an emergency, or you need your smartphone to get past your email account's two-factor authentication. Rahman claims that the features, which have been Beta testing in Brazil since August, are due for a wider roll-out next year. But it's not just snatch and grabs that users need to worry about when it comes to protecting their smartphones, cybercriminals are consistently finding out new ways to try and comprise your mobile banking data. In August, researchers from cybersecurity firm ESET revealed new malware targeting Android phones that can relay payment data from nearby phones that have near-field communication (NFC) enabled. This is the technology that allows you to pay with contactless using your phone, commonly known as "tap-to-pay". Hackers, if successful can use this NFC data which makes fraudulent transactions using your card data.