Android’s AI-Powered Anti-Theft Feature: How It Works

Android Phone Will Now Detect Theft And Lock Itself Using Google AI Theft Detection Lock is an automatic AI-powered screen lock for when your phone might get snatched.

While a phone theft is something no one ever wants, there is always the chance of your device falling into the wrong hands. However, it’s no longer just about the device; it’s about the info it holds. Since our phones store a lot of information, like accounts, passwords, and banking information, it’s important to protect data quickly in case it gets stolen. Google is here to assist in this situation.

Google is reportedly releasing new features designed to make it more difficult for hackers to access your information. Mishaal Rahman, an Android writer, said that after a recent update, his Xiaomi 14T Pro phone had two new security features: Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock. Rahman wrote the same thing on Reddit.

Google revealed these features in May. Some users also said they had only seen a third feature, which they called “Remote Lock.”

The Theft Detection Lock is a special security tool that uses AI to lock your phone’s screen automatically to stop theft. Using Google AI, the feature recognizes a typical motion linked to theft, arising out of someone grabbing your phone and trying to flee by bike, car or other means. Your phone’s screen instantly locks if it detects the motion, preventing thieves from having easy access to your data.

Offline Device Lock, the second feature, locks your screen automatically to help protect your data even when your device is not connected to the internet. This is useful if someone tries to steal your phone and leave it unattended for a long time. Android can also find other signs that your device may be in the wrong hands. For example, Android will lock your device’s screen if someone tries to log in too many times and fails.

The Remote Lock tool also serves as a lifesaver in the event that you lose your phone. Using just your phone number and a brief security check, you will be able to lock the screen. For longer, you can get back to your account and use other helpful Find My Device tools, like giving the device a full factory reset command to erase all of its data.

It is said that devices running Android 10 or higher can get these features with a Google Play Services update.

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