Google is prioritizing user security with a range of new features in its Android 15 update, some of which will even benefit users with older Android versions.
Theft Detection Lock, an AI-powered feature, automatically locks the screen of your Android phone when it detects unusual motions usually associated with a phone being snatched.
This includes the phone moving rapidly in the opposite direction it was held.
Google understands that thieves might try to circumvent security by taking the phone offline. To resolve this, an Offline Device Lock feature will lock the phone if there are repeated failed authentication attempts or if it’s disconnected from the network.
An upgraded factory reset protection makes stolen phones a less attractive target. Even if a thief resets the device, they’ll be unable to set it up again without the owner’s credentials, rendering it useless and unsellable.
In the event your phone goes missing, a new remote lock feature allows you to lock it from any device by visiting android.com/lock [invalid URL removed] and entering your phone number and a security challenge.
These features will be available later this year via a Google Play Services update for phones running Android 10 or later, extending these protections to a wider range of users.
While details are still emerging, Android 15 itself will introduce “private spaces” for isolating sensitive apps and information, and additional protections during factory resets.
Play Protect, Google’s built-in security system, is receiving an upgrade with live threat detection. This feature uses on-device AI to analyze how apps use sensitive permissions, looking for signs of phishing or fraud.
If suspicious activity is detected, the app is flagged for further review by Google. This live threat detection will be available later this year on Pixel phones and phones from Honor, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Sharp, Transsion and others.
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