Google is working on a new feature called Identity Check for Android that will make it tougher for thieves to access your data even if they know your phone’s lock screen PIN. This feature is similar to Apple’s Stolen Device Protection.
Here’s how it works: Normally, if someone steals your phone and knows your PIN, they can bypass the biometric security (like fingerprint or face recognition) to access your apps. But with Identity Check, your phone will require you to use biometrics to unlock apps if it’s not in a trusted location, such as your home.
This means that even if a thief has your PIN, they won’t be able to get into your apps if the phone is outside a location you’ve set as safe.
Tipster Mishaal Rahman found evidence of this feature while looking at the latest Android 15 QPR1 Beta. In the Settings app, there’s a new message saying “Identity Check is on” when biometrics are required. The feature will activate when the phone is outside of trusted locations, and the option to use the PIN will be removed.
Google is updating its Trusted Places feature to support this new Identity Check option. This feature will track when your phone is away from a trusted location and require biometric authentication to access apps, similar to how iPhones handle sensitive actions with biometrics when they are not in a familiar place.
The rollout of Identity Check is expected to be in future updates, likely requiring Android 15 QPR1 or later. This should enhance security for Android users by making it much harder for thieves to steal personal data from apps.
Discover Amazon Music Unlimited: Activate Your Free Trial Today [USA Only]