Losing a smartphone today is no small matter; it’s like handing a thief access to your wallet, ID, bank account, and digital identity all at once. Fortunately, Apple and Android have stepped up their defences in 2025 with new updates that make it significantly harder for criminals to exploit stolen phones.
Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, here are essential protections and updates you should know about, and how to use them to lock thieves out of your life.
Apple’s Stolen Device Protection (ios 17.3 and Later)
Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3, requiring Face ID or Touch ID to access sensitive features like saved passwords, Apple ID settings, and Lost Mode. If your phone is in an unfamiliar location, there’s a one-hour delay before allowing any critical changes.
This delay gives users time to act in case their phone is stolen, whether by using Find My iPhone or reporting the theft. The goal is to disrupt a thief’s ability to lock you out of your own device and block key security settings. Combined with Face ID, this feature makes it significantly harder to take over an iPhone.
Android’s Identity Check (Android 16 and Beyond)
Google’s Identity Check is a powerful security upgrade first introduced on Pixel and Samsung devices and expanding with Android 16. It requires biometric authentication for sensitive actions like opening password managers or accessing banking apps.
Even if someone has your PIN or unlock pattern, they can’t bypass this layer. Unlike traditional Android prompts, Identity Check does not allow fallback to passcodes, it’s biometrics only. This creates a strong barrier that protects apps containing your most critical personal data.
Security Delays for Account Changes
On iPhones, changes to your Apple ID password, phone passcode, and other vital settings now require a one-hour delay if your phone is away from familiar locations. This delay is accompanied by biometric verification, which adds an extra step of protection.
The idea is to prevent quick takeovers where thieves spy on your passcode, steal your phone, and instantly change access credentials. This gives victims more time to realize their phone has been stolen and take action. Android is reportedly exploring similar features using geolocation-based security zones.
Biometric-Only Access to Sensitive Apps
More apps are now protected behind biometric authentication by default, thanks to changes in both iOS and Android. Password managers, banking apps, and cloud drives must be accessed using Face ID or fingerprint recognition.
This prevents thieves from using just a passcode to steal money or credentials. Apple’s latest updates require Face ID even to see stored Safari passwords, and Android apps can be locked individually using biometric settings. This reduces the risk of app-based exploitation after a theft.
Factory Reset Protection (Android) & Activation Lock (Apple)
Both Apple and Google have long-standing protections that make factory resetting a phone much more difficult without the account credentials. On Android, Factory Reset Protection (FRP) activates after a reset and requires the previously used Google login to be entered.
Apple’s Activation Lock works through Find My iPhone and keeps a phone locked to the owner’s Apple ID. These features ensure that stolen phones cannot be easily wiped and resold. They are especially important in deterring theft by reducing the value of stolen devices.
Find My Phone Enhancements
Both Apple and Google have improved their tracking services with added features and stronger network integration. Apple’s Find My iPhone now works even if the device is offline or turned off, using a network of nearby Apple devices. Google’s Find My Device can now integrate with Bluetooth tags and uses crowd-sourced location data to improve recovery accuracy.
These services allow you to play a sound, lock your phone, or remotely wipe data in case of theft. Their increasing accuracy and reach make recovering a lost phone more feasible than ever.
Lock Screen Access Restrictions
iOS and Android let you customize what can be accessed when your phone is locked. Many users don’t realize that features like Control Center, camera, Wi-Fi toggles, or voice assistants can be used even when the phone is locked.
Thieves can exploit these to turn on airplane mode or disconnect from networks, making tracking harder. Disabling these shortcuts requires a trip to your security or passcode settings. Locking down the lock screen is a simple but effective way to stop opportunistic attackers from tampering with your phone.
Biometric Protection for Passwords
Storing passwords securely is vital, and both operating systems have built-in options. iCloud Keychain on iPhones stores login details and requires Face ID to access them. Android users can use Google Password Manager with fingerprint or facial verification enabled.
These tools are far safer than using a note-taking app or browser autofill without encryption. With biometric protection, even if your phone is stolen, the vaults storing your most sensitive information remain locked.
Automatic Reboot After Inactivity (Android)
A new Android security feature will reboot phones automatically after three days of being locked. This forces the device into a “Before First Unlock” state, encrypting the data and requiring a full password instead of biometrics to access anything.
According to The Verge, if a phone has been stolen and left idle, this function protects data from delayed attacks. It’s useful in preventing offline tampering and buying more time for the rightful owner to act. This adds a deeper layer of time-based protection to Android’s existing security.
Beware of Post-Theft Phishing Attempts
A growing number of scammers are following up on physical theft with digital phishing campaigns. After stealing a phone, they may send emails or texts pretending to be Apple or Google, urging you to click on links to “recover” your phone.
These phishing links can harvest your credentials. They may also trick you into disabling Always go directly to trusted URLs like appleid.apple.com or myaccount.google.com to verify account activity. Never trust recovery emails or SMS messages unless you initiated the request.
