- Google Chrome for Android is preparing to add support for Identity Check, an upcoming feature that will force apps to use biometric authentication when your phone is outside of a trusted location.
- Identity Check ensures that even if thieves know your lock screen PIN, pattern, or password, they still can’t unlock your apps.
- Chrome will use this feature to secure password autofill and other sensitive settings.
Your Android phone likely has a ton of sensitive personal, medical, and financial data on it, making it a prime target for thieves. That’s why you should enable the theft protection features that Google just rolled out so thieves can’t keep your phone unlocked after stealing it. If Android’s theft protection fails to lock your phone after it’s been stolen, though, then there’s still some hope that you can secure your data. That’s because apps like Google Chrome will be able to protect your data even if a thief who knows your screen lock steals your phone.
Currently, if a thief peeks over your shoulder and sees you enter your phone’s lock screen PIN, pattern, or password before snatching it, they can not only unlock your phone anytime they want but also get access to many of your most sensitive apps. This is because many apps that ask you to authenticate yourself before you can access certain data let you enter your lock screen PIN, pattern, or password instead of using biometrics like your face or fingerprint. Not all apps do this, but those that do are vulnerable to being cracked by thieves who shoulder surf before stealing a phone. This is a problem that Android’s upcoming Identity Check feature hopes to solve.