- The code in an application of the Google application points to a “inactivity restart” function
- This sounds very similar to a safety tool available on iPhones
- It is not yet active, but it will probably be released as part of Android 16
At the end of last year, Apple added a security function to the iPhones that should make it difficult for thieves to use stolen phones, and also caused problems for the application of the law, and now the same characteristic could be reaching Android.
The characteristic in question is known as “inactivity restart”, and on iPhone it means that the device will be automatically restarted after three days of inactivity.
In Android, it could be exactly the same, since Android Authority had found a reference to the “inactivity restart” in a disassembly of the Google Play Services application. In addition to sharing a name with Apple’s function, it apparently works the same, with the code chain that mentions that this would restart a device if it remains blocked for three days.
Blocking biometry
The reason to do this is that both iPhones and Androids are safer after a restart, since biometry (such as face and digital footprint scanners) are inactive, and instead you must enter your pin or password to unlock the phone.
The assumption, presumably, is that a device that turns on but has not been unlocked in several days can be in the hands of a thief, which so far has failed to unlock it. So, if you do not manage in three days, it will suddenly be much more difficult for them.
This feature is not yet active in Android, and although it is clearly something that Google is exploring, it is always possible that this does not reach public launch, but there is a good possibility that we will see it on Android 16.
More specifically, through its excavation, Android Authority discovered that this is probably part of the advanced protection mode, which is a broader security feature that we already know that it probably reaches Android 16.
In addition to probably including the restart of inactivity, this mode can do things such as blocking the lateral response, disable 2G connections and enable memory labeling (MTE) for applications, which is a feature that protects against memory safety errors.
Therefore, it seems that Google could be focusing security with its next Android launch, and should not have to wait too long to obtain these characteristics, since Android 16 is expected to land in the second quarter of this year, which means that at some time and end of June.
