Google on Tuesday was announced an expanded set of Android anti-theft features designed to make mobile devices less of a target for criminals. building on existing tools like Anti-theft Lock, Offline Device Lock and more introduced in 2024, the new updates released include stronger authentication safeguards and improved recovery tools, the company said.
While iPhones are often the preferred targets for thieves because of their resale value, Android devices are also subject to theft. This is especially true for high-end Android smartphones such as Google Pixel Pro devices, premium foldables and other flagship devices from well-known manufacturers such as Samsung.
With the new features, users of Android devices running Android 16 or later will have more control over the Failed Authentication Lock feature that automatically locks the device after an excessive number of failed login attempts. Now users will have access to a dedicated on/off switch in the device settings.
The devices will also offer stronger protection against a thief trying to guess a device owner’s PIN, pattern or password by increasing the lockout time after failed attempts. Additionally, Authenticate, a feature released for Android 15 and up last year, now covers all features and apps that use biometrics — like banking apps or Google Password Manager.
Remote Lock, a tool that lets you lock a lost or stolen device from a web browser, will now include an optional security challenge or question. With this feature, available in Android 10+, only the real owner of the device can activate the lock for added security.
In Brazil, two anti-theft features will now be enabled by default, including Theft Detection Lock, which uses in-device artificial intelligence to detect movement that could indicate a grab-and-run theft. The Remote Lock feature will also be automatically enabled and accessible from the android.com/lock website.
