Android is about to support a new anti-theft protection feature, what's interesting?

Smartphones are now considered an 'inseparable object' for many people. However, it is not uncommon for us to accidentally lose them, or worse, have them stolen. This is also the problem that Google wants to solve with Android 15, through a new set of features under the "Theft Protection" utility. This set of features will be called 'Identity Check'.

Specifically, users will be able to find the Identity Check feature right in the anti-theft protection settings on their Android 15 phones. This feature requires biometric authentication to access important device and account settings when the user (the owner of the device) is outside of designated trusted locations. This includes actions like changing the device PIN, disabling anti-theft protection, or accessing Passkey. Of course, this feature is on top of any security settings you may have enabled, and you can set trusted locations like your home, gym, or office.

The idea is that if your phone isn't in a trusted location, it will try harder to make sure that it's actually you (or a trusted person) using it and not an unauthorized party. Most anti-theft protection settings kick in when someone intentionally takes possession of your phone. Instead, this feature is a little more subtle and is designed for situations where, for example, you might leave your phone unattended and unlocked. There are a lot of ways someone could steal your phone, and Google wants to cover as many of those scenarios as possible.

Google is also expanding its theft detection lock feature, which is now available on phones running Android 10 and above. The company now plans to deepen its collaboration with GSMA and industry experts to combat mobile device theft on a broader scale. This involves sharing information, tools, and prevention techniques. An upcoming GSMA white paper, developed in collaboration with the mobile industry, will provide more details on protecting individuals and organizations against device theft.

The new Identity Check feature will roll out first on Pixel devices running Android 15 and Samsung Galaxy devices running the One UI 7 update, so stay tuned for the update rolling out to your device soon.

David Pac

Update 26 January 2025