Our smartphones contain valuable and sometimes very sensitive data. A future feature could soon help you keep an eye on what's happening on them. Google is testing a discreet but powerful tool in Android 16.
Data theft has exploded in recent years, and malware is more dangerous than ever. A report from Kaspersky revealed a sharp rise in software designed to steal credentials and personal data. More recently, spyware called Spyzie compromised more than 500,000 Android devices and thousands of iPhones. These attacks demonstrate the extent to which mobile devices have become prime targets for cybercriminals. Faced with this growing threat, smartphone manufacturers must strengthen their protection systems. Google is currently developing a feature called Intrusion Detection, which could be released in Android 16. Its goal would be to keep track of unusual activity on a device. It would automatically record certain events and save them in a secure space in Google Drive, with full encryption. This log would allow users to check whether their phone has been tampered with without their permission. In case of doubt, it would thus become easier to detect an intrusion or a discreet attempt at espionage.
Intrusion Detection would allow you to detect suspicious manipulations on your phone running Android 16
The function was spotted by Android Authority, in the code of Google Play Services, version 25.18.31. It therefore remains in the development phase, with no guarantee of an official launch. Intrusion Detection would collect several types of data: screen lock, USB connections, browsing history, app installations, Wi-Fi connections and other activity signals. These elements would then be encrypted before being automatically transferred to a Google Drive account. The data would be time-stamped, allowing precise tracking of suspicious actions over time.
Access to these logs would be limited to ensure confidentiality. You would have to enter your Google password and lock code to decrypt the data. Even if the phone were stolen, access to them would remain protected. According to clues found in the code, Intrusion Detection would be linked to the advanced protection mode of Android 16. This mode is generally intended for high-risk profiles, such as journalists or political figures.
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