Android’s new anti-theft feature is now in testing

Theft Detection Lock, as it’s called, uses AI to determine whether certain sudden movements are indicative of a burglary attempt in progress. In addition to relying on movement, it can also use other signals, such as someone trying to use it on a different network or realizing it has been away from a frequently used network for an extended period of time.

Google announced the automatic anti-theft feature as part of the larger privacy and security improvements it is planning for Android 15, which also include a password-locked vault called “private space” that stores sensitive apps and data. Theft detection will be backported to older versions, however.

In lighter news, Android users in Brazil aren’t just testing out a new security feature. Soon, they will also find it easier to contact businesses – you can send messages directly via WhatsApp by tapping a dedicated button that appears in the business search list. They will also be able to book appointments with local businesses like doctors and cosmetologists directly from the search results. For now, both features are exclusive to those in the country.