Android phone stolen? Ingenious new feature instantly protects stolen phones

Google has included a spectacular new feature in the new Android 15 to at least mitigate the negative consequences of smartphone theft: An AI-based function that automatically recognises the theft and immediately takes protective measures.

Theft Detection Lock

Google’s new “Theft Detection Lock” is based on the following principle: “This new feature uses Google AI to recognise if someone snatches your smartphone from your hand and tries to get away with it on foot, by bike or by car. If a theft is detected, your smartphone is quickly locked so that your information does not fall into the wrong hands”.

It’s one of the three new Android 15 features we can’t wait to try.

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Especially in the event of a sudden theft, the victim is usually taken by surprise and doesn’t know what to do first. This is where the new Google AI-based theft protection comes into play. The new function immediately locks the mobile phone and its screen so that the thief has no access to the data on the smartphone. What is really original is the fact that the AI is supposed to recognise typical movement patterns of such a mobile phone theft: In other words, the thief running away or driving off with the mobile phone.

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Offline device lock

But this immediate lock is not everything. If a thief tries to disconnect the stolen smartphone for a longer period of time, the offline device lock automatically locks your screen to protect your data, even if the stolen mobile phone is not connected to the network. Google calls this “Offline Device Lock”. Android should also recognise other signs that the device could be in the wrong hands. For example, the screen of your device will be locked if too many failed authentication attempts are made.

With a third new function called Remote Lock , you can also lock your Android remotely.

Google plans to roll out this clever and – if it works reliably – extremely useful theft protection Theft Detection Lock as well as Offline Device Lock later in 2024. Although both new security functions start with Android 15, all other Android devices from Android 10 onwards will also receive these smart security functions.