Google has implemented a new security feature for Android devices that will automatically restart phones that remain locked for three consecutive days. The update was rolled out Monday through Google Play Services version 25.14, a core component of the Android operating system.
This security enhancement mirrors a similar feature called " Inactivity Reboot " that Apple introduced in iOS 18.1 last year. The automatic restart forces phones into what security experts call the "Before First Unlock" state, where data remains fully encrypted and more difficult to access without the proper passcode.
The feature addresses a key vulnerability in smartphone security. When a phone is unlocked for the first time after powering on, it transitions to an "After First Unlock" state where certain data becomes decrypted and potentially vulnerable to specialized forensic tools often used by law enforcement agencies like those made by Cellebrite or Magnet Forensics.
By automatically rebooting after three days of inactivity, Android devices reduce the window of opportunity for unauthorized data extraction attempts. Security researchers note this creates an additional barrier against advanced forensic techniques that rely on the device remaining in its unlocked state.
The update applies to Android phones and tablets but not Wear OS devices. Users will begin seeing this feature as Google Play Services version 25.14 reaches their devices in the coming days.
Google has not publicly commented on the specific reasoning behind the feature's implementation, but it aligns with the industry's trend toward more robust security protocols to protect user data from both routine and sophisticated extraction methods.
This security enhancement mirrors a similar feature called " Inactivity Reboot " that Apple introduced in iOS 18.1 last year. The automatic restart forces phones into what security experts call the "Before First Unlock" state, where data remains fully encrypted and more difficult to access without the proper passcode.
The feature addresses a key vulnerability in smartphone security. When a phone is unlocked for the first time after powering on, it transitions to an "After First Unlock" state where certain data becomes decrypted and potentially vulnerable to specialized forensic tools often used by law enforcement agencies like those made by Cellebrite or Magnet Forensics.
By automatically rebooting after three days of inactivity, Android devices reduce the window of opportunity for unauthorized data extraction attempts. Security researchers note this creates an additional barrier against advanced forensic techniques that rely on the device remaining in its unlocked state.
The update applies to Android phones and tablets but not Wear OS devices. Users will begin seeing this feature as Google Play Services version 25.14 reaches their devices in the coming days.
Google has not publicly commented on the specific reasoning behind the feature's implementation, but it aligns with the industry's trend toward more robust security protocols to protect user data from both routine and sophisticated extraction methods.
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