How to Turn Offline Anti-Theft Features on Android Smartphones? A Case Study from Google Activity Recognition for Car Crime Detection
Three features many Android owners can activate now are Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock. Curious about using these protective features on your Android smartphone? Artificial intelligence is used to detect and how to turn on anti-theft features.
Since many thefts can be violent or involve sudden, jerky movements, Guo sought ad vice from Google’s Activity Recognition team, which worked on a somewhat similar feature available on Pixel smartphones for car crash detection. “At a very high level, it starts with motion sensors,” she says. Users would find an approach with sudden movements more annoying than beneficial, and that is where machine learning comes into play.
The AI model is not static, and developers plan to continue adding new smartphone theft scenarios to the training data as criminals modify their behavior. Also, with the global launch of these anti-theft features, they can now learn more about how a diverse group of smartphone owners actually interact with these options.
Adding a Passcode to Android Device Privacy Settings: Feature Selection for Significant Locations in the Settings Panel on the App Store & the iPhone App Store
Go ahead and see if your phone is running a recent version of the Android operating system. If you want to use these features on your device, you need to be on at least Android 10, and the latest version of software gives you access to more security options. It’s a basic first step, but if you haven’t already, also add a passcode to your device by going into the privacy settings.
Criminals can use the feature to get into your device, if they know your security password and also take your phone. When they physically take your phone away from you and bring it to a location you don’t frequently visit, then the Stolen Device Protection security measures begin to kick in.
The last software feature you need to activate on the iPhone is Significant Locations. This keeps track of the places you visit so that your phone can locate it if it is in a familiar place. Apple says that the data is not read by the company. Significant Locations is a bit buried in the menus—find it by opening Settings, then Privacy & Security, and Location Services. Go down until you see the System Services tab. Select Significant Locations, and you’ll likely be prompted to unlock it with Face ID. The feature can be enabled by moving the Toggle to the right on the next page.
Two-Factor Authentication for Apple IDs, and How to Ensure that You’re Not Using Snippet Protected
If you don’t use stolen device protection, you need to check whether two-factor Authentication is enabled for your Apple ID. Check to see if you’re already using this by going to Settings, tapping on your name at the top, and then choosing the Sign-In & Security tab. You have to look in the middle of the screen for a sign that 2FA is on.
The main thing the feature triggers is it starts requiring your Face ID biometrics to access any sensitive features on the phone, like using your Keychain passwords, seeing your stored payment information in Safari, and disabling Lost Mode. Even if the thieves know your passcode, it will no longer work as a backup option; Face ID becomes required for full access. This also prevents thieves from wiping all your data off the phone in a way that they can sell it, as they need Face ID as well.