Summary
- Samsung partnered with the UK Home Office to promote Android’s anti-theft features.
- Galaxy phones now include security features like Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock.
- Galaxy-exclusive features like Identity Check and Security Delay boost device security.
While Google has been tightening Android’s security with new anti-theft features, theft unfortunately remains a big issue, especially in major cities around the world. One reason people are often unable to retrieve their phones — or at least block them remotely to protect their data — is the lack of awareness about these Android security features.
Samsung has now partnered with the UK Home Office to help educate users about these features and encourage Galaxy smartphone owners to enable them. The Korean giant has announced that it has issued a public safety security message alert through its communication channels and Samsung Members app to launch an awareness campaign about Android’s privacy and anti-theft features. The company also said it will advertise these features outdoors in prime London areas.
The features themselves are not new, though. They have rolled out to nearly all modern Samsung Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z Flip 6, and are designed to protect users in the event of phone theft.
Galaxy users, turn on these new safety features ASAP
Key features include Theft Detection Lock, which uses on-device machine learning to detect if a phone has been snatched and instantly locks the screen to protect data. There’s also Offline Device Lock, which locks the device if it’s disconnected from the network for an extended period, and Remote Lock, which allows users to lock their Android phones remotely using their phone number and a quick verification step.
Samsung has also added Galaxy-exclusive features like Identity Check, prompting biometric authentication if sensitive changes are made to the device’s settings in unfamiliar locations, and Security Delay, which imposes a one-hour delay if someone tries to reset biometric data, giving users time to locate and secure their device.
Most of these features are available on almost all modern Samsung smartphones, and if you haven’t already, it’s highly recommended to enable them — it only takes a few minutes.
