Losing your phone is stressful. But what if a stranger could also hack your data via a USB cable... Android 16 has the solution: a mode that transforms your phone into a locked fortress.
With Android 16, Google is strengthening smartphone security with Advanced Protection Mode. This new optional mode cuts off USB access as soon as the device is locked, preventing hacks via infected keys or malicious peripherals. This is a direct response to documented attacks, such as the one suffered by a student activist in Serbia. The system works on two levels. At the hardware level, it physically disables the USB data lines, allowing only charging. At the software level, it blocks all communication with new peripherals. Result: even with a cable plugged in, it's impossible to inject data or force unlocking.
Also read – Your Android smartphone is at the mercy of a hacker attack if you don't update
How does it work?
When a USB device is connected to a locked phone, Android 16 displays a "suspicious USB activity" alert. To access it, you must unlock the device... then reconnect the cable. Devices already connected (like a smartwatch) remain active, but no new ones can communicate.
Manually tested on Android 16 beta 4 by Android Authority, the mode successfully blocked USB flash drives and external keyboards. Once unlocked, the smartphone recognizes the devices without any problems. This protection is in addition to other Advanced Protection Mode measures: prohibiting the installation of external apps, disabling 2G, etc.
Google is relying on an API introduced in Android 12, previously reserved for businesses. The software approach, although less infallible than hardware, is sufficient to counter most attacks, such as the USB driver exploit revealed by Amnesty International.
We still have to wait for the final user interface to activate this mode with one click. Here's hoping Google doesn't delay: between activists and the simply cautious, many are eager to be able to encrypt their digital lives. This new feature This is in addition to the one introduced last summer, which allows your smartphone to automatically lock itself as soon as it detects that it has been stolen. They should therefore be able to work together.
0 Comments