Abstract created by Sensible Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Tech Advisor highlights Android’s new AI-powered theft safety options, together with Theft Detection Lock and Offline Gadget Lock, designed to fight rising cellphone theft and monetary fraud.
- These safety instruments routinely lock telephones when theft patterns are detected or when gadgets go offline, stopping thieves from accessing banking apps and private information.
- Most anti-theft options stay disabled by default, requiring customers to manually activate Identification Verify, Manufacturing unit Reset Safety, and Samsung’s Safety Delay for complete safety.
My colleague’s Pixel 9 Professional was snatched on Tottenham Courtroom Street final November. She was utilizing Maps when a thief on a motorbike grabbed it. She referred to as her financial institution inside minutes however the snatcher was method forward of her and had already tried accessing her banking apps.
The Metropolitan Police recorded 71,391 telephones stolen in London in 2025. Dropping the machine is never the worst half – it’s the banking app makes an attempt that may be extra expensive.
Since 2024, Android has had a correct set of theft safety instruments, which had been up to date once more in 2026 with a bunch of added options, together with Identification Verify for banking apps.
However many Android customers don’t even know that theft safety options exist on their gadgets. The options are buried in Settings and infrequently off by default. Google doesn’t shout about them both.
Right here’s every little thing it’s good to know to guard your cellphone, your information and your cash.
Theft Detection Lock
To show it on: Settings > Google > All providers > Theft safety > Theft Detection Lock
Nikhil Azza / Foundry
This characteristic is constructed for the state of affairs above. It’s AI that protects your Android cellphone the second it senses a theft try. The on-device AI makes use of an accelerometer, gyroscope, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth collectively to recognise sudden jerks, speedy motion, working, biking, and driving. If the sample matches a snatch and run, the display locks routinely earlier than the thief has time to start out disabling issues.
However there’s one restrict value realizing: it solely works on an unlocked, in-use display and, if somebody grabs it calmly with out working, the algorithm has nothing to set off it. It additionally received’t set off if you happen to’re related to a steady Wi-Fi or Bluetooth community, which Google says reduces false positives.
Talking of which, the sensitivity could cause points. Google made theft detection extra strong in early 2025 which means that if you happen to out of the blue jog quick, there’s an opportunity that theft detection might kick in and lock the display. It might be annoying, however it additionally proves that it’s working.
Offline Gadget Lock
To show it on: Settings > Google > All providers > Theft safety > Offline Gadget Lock
Nikhil Azza / Foundry
The very first thing most thieves do is lower the web. A related machine may be tracked, locked, and wiped remotely. Pulling it offline stops all of that, and the offline machine lock is constructed particularly to forestall that.
In case your cellphone goes offline for an prolonged time frame after being unlocked, the display locks routinely. It additionally triggers after too many failed makes an attempt in a brief window. Google hasn’t publicised the brink however it doesn’t occur immediately. A short sign drop received’t set off it, for instance going right into a basement or tunnel, however a cellphone that stays offline will.
The identical caveat applies as with the Theft Detection Lock. Your cellphone needs to be unlocked when it loses connectivity for this to kick in.
Identification Verify
On a Pixel: Settings > Google > All providers > Theft safety > Identification Verify
Nikhil Azza / Foundry
That is crucial and least understood safety measure. It will probably cease a thief breaking into your cellphone within the first place.
Take this state of affairs: somebody watches you kind in your PIN in a espresso store, then takes your cellphone. They’ll now break in and alter the PIN, disable Discover Hub, run a manufacturing unit reset, and lock you out fully inside a couple of minutes, all earlier than you possibly can report or monitor.
With Identification Verify, none of those actions may be carried out exterior of a trusted location, with out your fingerprint or face. PIN alone received’t be sufficient for something delicate, comparable to altering your lock display, manufacturing unit resetting, accessing passkeys or opening banking apps. Biometrics will likely be wanted.
Samsung’s One UI provides its personal layer on high with Safety Delay. Attempt to reset the biometric information exterior the trusted location in your Galaxy cellphone and a one-hour ready interval kicks in earlier than any adjustments take impact.
That hour is the window to log into Samsung Discover from a laptop computer and put the cellphone into Misplaced Mode earlier than the takeover is accomplished. It’s a sensible addition.
Manufacturing unit Reset Safety
This has been round since Android 5.1, and it does an essential job. If a thief manually resets your cellphone from settings, Manufacturing unit Reset Safety kicks in and the subsequent time they’re on the set-up display, it calls for earlier Google account credentials. With out credentials, the cellphone can’t be arrange and it’s ineffective. It’s what makes stolen Android gadgets exhausting to promote on.
There’s no toggle for it – add a Google account and it’s energetic routinely. You nearly definitely have already got it.
However there’s a spot value realizing: if the thief is aware of your PIN and goes into the Settings and removes your Google account, then they carry out a manufacturing unit reset, the FRP received’t set off. The account was gone earlier than the reset.
That is the place safety measures work collectively and it’s why Identification Verify issues past simply banking apps. Exterior a trusted location, eradicating a Google account requires biometric authentication, not only a PIN. A thief can’t take away the account and may’t defeat FRP.
Additionally, remotely wiping through Discover Hub removes FRP fully. Anybody can set the cellphone recent after that. Due to this fact, lock it first at android.com/lock. Solely wipe it if you happen to’ve given up on getting it again.
What it’s good to activate proper now
Every thing besides Manufacturing unit Reset Safety is off by default on most telephones. You’ll want to change on Theft Detection Lock and Offline Gadget Lock. Distant Lock wants your quantity to be verified and Identification Verify wants a full setup.
Spending 5 minutes in Settings is the distinction between merely shedding your cellphone and shedding your cellphone and having your checking account and private information compromised.
My colleague received her Pixel again three weeks later. Somebody handed it in at a police station in Hackney, nonetheless locked. Two banking app makes an attempt had been made, however not a 3rd.
Subsequent up, discover out every little thing it’s good to find out about Android 17.