Google is currently showing off Android 15 and some of its upcoming features as the company releases the second beta version. It looks like the new upgrade will be focused alot on security with a new Theft Detection Lock feature set to be part of the OS.
According to Google, the feature will be able to detect when your phone has been snatched from your hands or pockets and automatically apply necessary actions to lock the phone completely from being used by anyone else. Theft Detection Lock works by identifying sudden unusual motions that would indicate that your phone has been grabbed.
The system will be able to look for other signals of foul play and automatically lock the screen for protection. This could include someone trying to take it off the network in order to prevent remote access.
Google will also introduce a new way for users to lock their screen remotely in case it ends up in the wrong hands. You will be required to visit android.com/lock, enter your phone number and respond to a security challenge to lock your device. This is a tool that could prove to be very useful if you need to take these actions quickly from a friend’s phone for instance.
The tech giant states that marking the device as lost could help in tracking through the Find My Device feature that already exists.
Android 15 will also feature a Private Space feature where important apps can be hidden in case of theft. The feature will be a window present in the app drawer where you can add all the apps you want to hide from anyone who accesses your phone. The space will be under lock and can only be accessed through your unlock credentials be it password or fingerprint.
