Android smartphones will become useless for thieves 0 15

Google has announced advanced security features for smartphones running on Android. This was reported in the Google Security Blog.

The new security measures are designed to protect the smartphone and the data stored on it from theft. According to specialists at the IT giant, the protective features will make the phones virtually useless for thieves. For instance, the screen lock feature appeared in Android 15 after multiple failed authentication attempts. In Android 16, users will be able to set how many incorrect attempts will trigger the screen lock and for how long.

The Identity Check feature will now cover not only built-in services but also all applications that use biometrics. Specialists reminded that Identity Check may ask the user to enter an additional security code or scan their face if it suspects that the device has been compromised by an attacker.

Google also stated that the tools for enhanced protection against password guessing when the screen is locked have become smarter. The operating system (OS) will not count repeated password entry attempts towards the action limit. "This prevents the smartphone from being locked, for example, due to a curious child," the company noted.

The new features are available to users with smartphones running Android 16 and newer versions of the OS.