Android has received a ton of security features since 2024, including Theft Detection, Identity Check and offline device lock. Well, Google appears to be doubling down on them with a fresh wave of theft protection updates, which are now rolling out. These changes offer users more control, smarter lockouts and deeper integration with more apps.
Android 16 Gets Smarter Lockouts and Biometrics
Smartphones running on Android 16 are now receiving a dedicated toggle for the Failed Authentication Lock feature. Originally introduced in Android 15 as an automatic background measure, this function locks the phone if it detects multiple failed authentication attempts within apps or settings, making it one of the best Android Privacy Settings.
Additionally, Google is also increasing the lockout duration for failed screen unlock attempts to slow down thieves trying to brute-force a PIN. Besides, entering the same incorrect guess twice won't count as a distinct re-entry, leaving thieves with far less guessing power.
The Identity Check feature is now expanding to all apps on Android 16, making it one of the best Android 16 features at the moment. For those unaware, it's a feature that forces users to scan their biometrics to change settings when the phone is outside a trusted place.
This should make it so that more apps are protected outside your trusted location, giving you the peace of mind when someone tries launching a sensitive app and changing an important setting.
For smartphones running Android 10 or higher, Google is adding an optional security challenge to the Remote Lock web tool. This requires users to answer a security question before a phone can be remotely locked, preventing unauthorised actors from locking a phone.
Finally, Android phones in countries like Brazil will ship with Remote Lock and Theft Detection Lock enabled by default. This way, users don't need to dig through menus to turn them on. This should expand to more regions soon. The mentioned features are already rolling out to Android smartphones, and we've already received them on our Pixel 10 unit.
All of the above features and improvements, combined with Advanced Protection Mode in Android 16, new Find Hub and Factory Reset Protection, make Android smartphones more secure than ever.
