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In brief: Google is borrowing a page from Apple's playbook. The tech giant is rolling out a new security feature that will automatically restart a device that has been locked and inactive for three consecutive days.
Apple introduced a similar feature dubbed inactivity reboot with iOS 18.1 near the end of 2024. After a few days of inactivity, an iPhone equipped with the feature will automatically reboot itself. Most consider this an added layer of security, as a rebooted device is more difficult to break into and extract data from.
Typically, biometrics and location-based unlocking do not work immediately after a fresh reboot, necessitating a passcode or PIN instead. Data in this "before first unlock" state is also encrypted, making it that harder to access.
The smartphone industry largely operates on the "monkey see, monkey do" ideology. Once a company introduces a novel concept, it is only a matter of time before the competition clones the idea and bakes it into their product line.
In this instance, it is hard to have any ill will over one camp copying the other. When it comes to enhanced security, everyone wins… well, maybe everyone except criminals and law enforcement.
Tougher-to-crack phones could deter criminals from swiping them in the first place as they know they are now working on a time constraint. If they can't get any usable data off them within the first few days, it is pretty much a wash. When the similar iOS feature debuted, police were reportedly miffed that it would now be more difficult to extract data from iPhones in evidence lockers.
The new Google Play Services update (version 25.14) arrived on April 14 but could take up to a week to reach all devices. The update additionally delivers a handful of other new features and fixes, including updates to system management services that improve stability and a new feature that makes it easier to set up a new device and transfer data from your old phone.
Image credit: Vlad Yera, Kelvin Mah
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