After the Google beta test in Brazil, the initial series of anti-theft functions for Android mobile phones is now widely available-but you have to choose.
Why doesn’t the company automatically add the protections to every compatible device? Insight from the Brazil beta test helped developers at the company make this decision. “We found that users behaved very differently in metropolitan areas and in rural areas,” says Jianing Sandra Guo, Android security and privacy product manager at Google. She doesn’t want to add unnecessary friction for users who aren’t that interested in the anti-theft software.
Three features that many Android owners can activate now are Theft Detection KeyWireless Device Key, and Remote Key. Are you curious to use these protection features on your Android mobile phone? Here’s a look at how the detection happens using artificial intelligence and steps to activate the anti-theft features.
How Does Android Theft Detection Work?
Because many thefts can be violent or involve sudden, jerky movements, Guo sought guidance from Google’s Activity Recognition team, which was working on a somewhat similar feature available in Pixel smartphones for car crash detection. “At a very high level, it starts with motion sensors,” she says. But, an approach solely focused on sudden movements could lead to so many false triggers, users would likely find the option more annoying than useful—and that’s where machine learning, a segment of AI focused on pattern recognition, comes in.
The developers of Google investigated methods of theft of smart phones used in different parts of the globe and played the thefts for training data. “We represent those scenarios. Then we collect the trace from the device,” says Guo. “We use AI to compile those traces into a model to try to predict the next time a seizure will occur.” For Android owners, this process is done through on-device models.
The AI model is not static, and developers plan to continue adding new mobile theft scenarios to the training data as criminals modify their behavior. Also, with the global launch of these anti-theft features, they can now learn more about how a diverse group of smartphone owners actually interact with these options.
How Do I Turn It On?
Go ahead and see if your phone is running a recent version of the Android operating system. Your device must be powered on at least Android 10 run these three functions, and the last one Android 15 software gives you access to more security options. It’s a basic first step, but if you haven’t already, also add a passcode to your device by going into the privacy settings.
Next, open the Settings app on your phone and search Protection against theft. Opening this tab will display the three lock screen security features. “It’s very common for the mobile phone to assume that the person who has access to it is the rightful owner,” says Guo. By adding more ways to activate the lock, users have more protections if their phone is intercepted while unlocked. When the Theft Detection Key is turned on, the screen will automatically lock if it detects a potential robbery, based on movement patterns as well as whether your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth remains connected.
With Offline Device Lock activated, your phone will go to the lock screen, up to twice a day, if the internet is suddenly turned off for a while or if the airplane mode is activated. “From our market research, that’s a common attack they do after taking an unlocked device,” says Guo. Why would thieves do this? When a device is offline, it cannot be remotely reset with Find My Device to delete your personal information from the device.
The third security option available on this page is Remote Key. You will have to click on the name to see this toggle, unlike the first two options. The feature is designed to give you a quick, easy-to-reach option for locking your phone with a visit android.com/lock on any device and entering your phone number. However, Remote Lock will only work twice a day and will activate when the smartphone is online.
