All Android users set for big free update – check | Tech News

Our smartphones comprise virtually all probably the most delicate data and information about us corresponding to personal messages, contact data, bank particulars, non-public pictures and far more apart from. That’s why it may be such a headache if our telephones are misplaced or stolen and people can entry all of the apps on board.

To help with this, Google is pushing out a vital update for all Android telephones and tablets that can robotically restart your system if it has been “locked for 3 consecutive days”.

As noticed by 9to5Google, this new function was added with the most recent Google Play providers update and is listed as a Security & Privacy measure.

If your cellphone is pinched it’s straightforward for criminals to entry your personal information and apps if the system continues to be unlocked, however even when it was locked otherwise you managed to press the lock button in time, there are nonetheless methods of getting round your PIN code or biometrics.

Restarting your cellphone after three days is Google’s approach of making an attempt to make sure, in case your cellphone is misplaced or stolen, that it’s even tougher to entry what’s on it. Restarting an Android cellphone boots it in a mode the place your information is far tougher to get at as a result of biometric logins (which typically will be fooled with a image of you) usually are not enabled.

Because your passcode or PIN has not been entered, it’s a lot more tough for crooks to make use of sneaky workarounds to get into your cellphone.

“Android’s new auto-reboot is a welcome security feature that works in a similar way to Apple’s ‘inactivity reboot’”, mentioned Adam Boynton, Senior Security Strategy Manager EMEIA at security firm Jamf.

“By putting Android phones and tablets into a ‘Before First Unlock’ (BFU) state, information remains encrypted, making it harder for cybercriminals to unlock or extract data. Furthermore, BFU prevents access to the device via biometric methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition.

“Forcing a device into a BFU state rather than the traditional ‘After First Unlock’ (AFU) state means the device is better protected if it is lost or stolen.

“Google confirmed that the rollout will be via Play Services, so most users should receive the new security feature without needing to perform a full OS update. This is a smart move by Google, as one of the main reasons users miss out on the latest security features is because they don’t update their devices.”

To guarantee you may have the latest Google Play providers update put in in your Android cellphone or pill, faucet right here to view the Google Play providers app. It ought to show which model you may have put in, the new one being 25.14. If you do not have it but, you may be capable to faucet to update, in any other case it ought to update robotically within the coming days.