Your Android Phone Just Got A Powerful Anti-theft Upgrade - And I'm Sighing In Relief

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Android is getting upgraded theft protection features.
• Updates see expanded Identity Check and Remote Lock.
• The features are disposable now.

Google announced this week a caller group of theft protection characteristic updates for Android to thief mitigate problem if your telephone ever goes missing.

Also: Your Android phone's astir powerful information characteristic is disconnected by default - move it connected ASAP

Because our phones transportation truthful overmuch captious accusation these days, nan costs of replacing a instrumentality is genuinely nan slightest of your problems if your telephone falls into nan incorrect hands. Today's updates not only make it much difficult for a nefarious character to unlock your phone, but besides supply captious protection for important apps and make it harder for personification other to fastener down your phone.

Here's a look astatine what's new.

1. Improved unlock protection

One of nan biggest caller features is stronger protection against surface fastener guessing. By expanding nan lockout clip aft grounded attempts, Google has made it overmuch much difficult for personification other to conjecture your phone's PIN, pattern, aliases password. 

Of course, mistakes still hap if you hide your credentials aliases if your kid grabs your phone, truthful identical incorrect guesses will not count toward your retry limit.

2. Expanded Identity Check

A twelvemonth ago, Android introduced Identity Check, a characteristic that automatically locks your delicate settings pinch biometric authentication if you're extracurricular of a trusted area. This instrumentality now covers each features and apps that usage an Android Biometric Prompt -- including financial apps and Google Password Manager.

To alteration it, hunt for "Identity Check" successful your Android's settings and travel nan prompts. 

3. Enhanced Remote Lock

Android besides says it's giving you much power complete Remote Lock, a instrumentality that lets you fastener your mislaid aliases stolen instrumentality from immoderate web browser. You now person nan expertise to adhd a information question/challenge to nan process, making judge that only you, nan existent instrumentality owner, tin initiate a lock. 

You tin fastener a telephone by going to this page and entering your telephone number (provided you person distant fastener connected and your instrumentality is online). 

4. More power complete grounded authentication

Failed Authentication Lock, first seen successful Android 15, is simply a characteristic that automatically locks your device's surface aft excessive
failed authentication attempts. To springiness you much power complete your ain security, this characteristic now has a dedicated enable/disable toggle successful nan settings menu.

These updates are now disposable for Android devices moving Android 16 and newer.