Google’s Android Update May Stop Your Phone Being Stolen
Google’s latest Android update has an anti-theft feature, which could make stolen phones useless to thieves.
The feature, called “Device Protection,” acts as a kill switch on devices with the Android 5.1 operating system. If a phone is lost or stolen, it will remain locked until the owner signs in with their Google account - even if someone resets the device to factory settings.
Device Protection is Google’s answer to Apple’s “Activation Lock,” which requires an Apple ID to reactive the device.
Google said its anti-theft feature would be available on “most” Android phones and tablets shipped with version 5.1, in addition to the Motorola Nexus 6 and HTC Nexus 9 smartphones.
More: Google’s Android Update May Stop Your Phone Being Stolen