We’re still waiting for Android 15 to roll out to users – that should happen from next month – but a new security feature has been discovered in the beta version of the software that makes it harder for unwanted visitors to gain access to your phone.
Some are digging into the latest Android 15 beta code Android Authority unveiled something called “Identity Check.” Based on the instructions surrounding it, it seems like this will be standard biometric checks in certain situations.
For example, if someone is looking over your shoulder in a coffee shop and sees you entering your PIN, they won’t be able to use that PIN to access the device. Instead, they’ll have to use facial or fingerprint recognition.
Based on another hidden code discovery made by a well-known tipster @AssembleDebugit appears that this mandatory biometric check will be activated when you are outside of locations you have marked as ‘trusted’, such as your home or office.
Thank you, Apple
Trusted Places for Mandatory Biometrics What could this be? pic.twitter.com/fcj13x1BEtSeptember 13, 2024
This ties in nicely with the Android Theft Detection feature that has already rolled out to devices and is not exclusive to Android 15: it automatically locks your device when it detects motion that could indicate it’s been pinched.
The Identity Check security also ties in with something iPhones already have, in the form of Apple Stolen Device Protection, introduced in iOS 17.3. This means that certain key security actions will require Face ID or Touch ID to work, not just your iPhone passcode.
Android 15 is already finished and ready to use, but engineers at Google, Samsung and other Android phone manufacturers are still putting the finishing touches on the software and adapting it to their own devices with additional tools and functionality.
The latest Pixel phones, including the Google Pixel 9, should be first in line to get Android 15 when it arrives. In addition to new security features, it’s also set to bring a host of additional customization options.