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Google has unveiled new privacy and security features coming to Android 15. We take a look at the innovations in the upcoming operating system update.

At the recent I/O 2024 developer conference in California, Google presented the second beta version of its Android 15 operating system — codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream. The company also gave us a closer look at the new security and privacy features coming with the update.

While the final release of Android 15 is still a few months away — slated for the third quarter of 2024 — we can already explore the new security features this operating system has in store for Android users.

AI-powered smartphone theft protection

The most significant security upgrade (but by no means the only one) is a suite of new features designed to protect against theft of the smartphone and the user data contained within. Google plans to make some of these features available not only in Android 15 but also for older versions of the operating system (starting with Android 10) through service updates.

First up is factory reset protection. To prevent thieves from wiping a stolen phone and quickly selling it, Android 15 will let you set up a lock that prevents resetting the device without the owner’s password.

Android 15 will also introduce a so-called “private space” for apps. Some apps like banking ones or instant messengers can be hidden and protected with an additional PIN code — preventing thieves from accessing sensitive data.


Android 15 will feature a “private space” to hide and protect selected apps with a separate PIN code

Furthermore, Google plans to add protection for the most critical settings in case a thief manages to get  hold of an unlocked smartphone. Disabling Find My Device or changing the screen lock timeout will require authentication using a PIN, password, or biometrics.

But that’s not all: there’ll also be protection against thieves who’ve snooped on or otherwise obtained the PIN code. Accessing critical settings like changing the PIN, disabling anti-theft, or using passkeys will require biometric authentication. According to Google, this settings protection will be available on some devices “later this year”.


Additional anti-theft features in Android

Now let’s talk about the new features that will be available not only in Android 15 but also in versions 10 and above. First, there’s AI-powered, accelerometer-based automatic screen locking. The screen will automatically lock if the system detects movements characteristic of someone snatching the phone and quickly running or driving away.


Android will automatically lock if it detects movement patterns indicative of smartphone theft

Additionally, the smartphone will automatically lock if a thief tries to keep it disconnected it from the internet for a long time. Automatic locking can also be set for other situations — for example, after a significant number of unsuccessful authentication attempts. Finally, Android will feature remote locking — allowing you to lock the phone’s screen from a different device.

Smartphones can also be remotely locked

Protection of personal data when screen sharing and recording

Android 15 also focuses on protecting user data from scams such as fake tech-support. Attackers might ask the user to share their screen (or record their actions and send a video) and instruct them to perform dangerous actions (such as logging in to an account). This way, scammers can obtain valuable information like login credentials, financial data, and so on.

First, screen sharing in Android 15 will (by default) only share the specific app the user is interacting with, and not the system interface (such as the status bar and notifications, which might contain personal information). But switching to full-screen sharing will still be possible if needed.
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