Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 anti-theft feature is already on Android, and you should enable it ASAP
Apple’s rumored iPhone 18 anti-theft feature is already on Android, and you should enable it ASAP
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/android-os/android-advanced-protection-anti-theft
Publish Date: 2026-06-03 05:05:00
Source Domain: www.androidcentral.com
You’ve probably seen the news stories about someone walking along, talking on their phone, when it’s suddenly swiped from their hands by a thief on a full-tilt run. Assuming you can quickly access a computer or another device that is signed into your Google account, it’s pretty easy to lock the device and track its location, but what happens during that valuable time between the time the phone is swiped and when it’s locked? Probably nothing good.
That’s why Google invented Android Advanced Protection, a suite of automated tools designed to keep your phone safe no matter whose hands it ends up in. Google began testing this feature with Android 16 beta releases in the Summer of 2025 and released the tools to all Android 16-powered phones early in 2026.
Advanced Protection packs in tons of great features that’ll keep you protected every day, from preventing memory bugs and malware, to blocking insecure network connections and websites, and even the aforementioned physical theft prevention. But, if all those things don’t matter too much to you, Theft Protection is still one separate feature you’ll want to enable ASAP.
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What is Android theft protection?
Android theft protection is a component of Google’s wider Advanced Protection suite and has deep hooks into Android 16 (and beyond). It was initially a Pixel-exclusive feature, but as with most of these types of features, it made its way to other Android phones before long. The wider Advanced Protection suite covers:
- Device safety: Automatically locks when physical theft is detected, the device goes offline, automatically reboots the phone if it’s been sitting unlocked for 3 consecutive days, and blocks USB connections when the phone is locked.
- Apps: Forces Google Play Protect scanning for all installed apps and blocks installation of apps from unknown sources.
- Networks and web: Disables connection to 2G networks (which can be easily spoofed),…
