Android boosts theft protection with Identity Check and expanded functionalities

In the modern era, individuals worldwide depend on their smartphones to maintain connections, manage finances, and access healthcare information, all conveniently at their fingertips. However, if a device falls into the wrong hands through theft, it can expose sensitive data and put you at risk of identity theft, financial scams, and privacy violations.

For this reason, we’ve recently introduced Android theft protection, a complete suite of features tailored to safeguard both you and your data at every stage – before, during, and after a device theft incident. With a dedication to ensuring your safety on Android, we’re broadening and enhancing these features to provide even more robust protection to a larger user base worldwide.

Rollout of Identity Check to Pixel and Samsung One UI 7 devices

We are excited to announce the official launch of Identity Check, initially available on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices compatible with One UI 7¹. This feature aims to enhance the protection of your crucial account and device settings. By activating Identity Check, your device will mandate explicit biometric authentication for accessing specific sensitive resources while you are away from trusted locations. This functionality also offers heightened security for Google Accounts on all compatible devices and additional defense for Samsung Accounts on eligible Galaxy devices using One UI 7, making it significantly harder for unauthorized individuals to compromise logged-in accounts on the device.

Upon enabling Identity Check, you can designate one or more trusted locations. When outside of these approved zones, biometric authentication will be necessary to access vital account and device settings, such as altering your device PIN or biometric data, deactivating theft protection, or managing Passkeys.

Identity Check furnishes added reassurance that your most confidential device assets remain shielded against unauthorized access, even in scenarios where a thief or malicious actor has knowledge of your device PIN.

The rollout of Identity Check has commenced for Pixel devices operating on Android 15 and will soon be accessible on compatible Galaxy devices supported by One UI 7. Subsequently, this feature will become available on endorsed Android devices manufactured by other brands later this year.

Expansion of AI-driven Theft Detection Lock to wider user base

Among the prime theft protection functionalities introduced last year was Theft Detection Lock, which leverages an on-device AI-based algorithm to identify potential situations where your phone might be forcibly taken. Once the machine learning algorithm identifies a possible theft effort on your unlocked device, it secures your screen to thwart unauthorized access.

Theft Detection Lock has now been completely rolled out to Android 10+ smartphones² worldwide.

Safeguarding your Android device from theft

We are collaborating with the GSMA and specialists in the industry to combat mobile device theft by exchanging insights, tools, and preventive strategies. Stay informed about an upcoming GSMA white paper, a collaborative effort with the mobile sector, aimed at providing further guidance on protecting both yourself and your organization from potential device theft incidents.

With the incorporation of Identity Check and continuous enhancements to our existing features, Android offers a comprehensive and powerful toolkit to defend your devices and data against theft. Our unwavering commitment is to offer you peace of mind, confident that your personal details are secure and protected.

You can enable the latest Android theft features by clicking here on a supported Android device. For more insights into our theft protection features, check out our help center.

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