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Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Millions of phone owners get anti-theft ‘secret weapon' to stop thieves breaking into your mobile after snatching it
A phone is stolen every seven-and-a-half minutes in London THAT'S PHONEY Millions of phone owners get anti-theft 'secret weapon' to stop thieves breaking into your mobile after snatching it MILLIONS of phone owners are to get a new anti-theft "secret weapon" on their mobile to stop thieves accessing the device after snatching it. The security feature means Android phones will start to reboot automatically if they haven't been used for three days. Advertisement 3 Phone-related crime is getting worse Credit: Getty 3 The new system means Android phones will reboot after three days Credit: Getty This means they will be more difficult to access if they haven't been used in a while as users have to enter the pin after a reboot. It comes after a recent survey from the Met Police revealed phones are stolen in London at a rate of one every 7 1⁄2 minutes. Figures show gangs and crooks took 70,137 mobiles last year — 192 a day. That is up a third from the 52,000 nicked in 2023, Met Police statistics show. Advertisement Another important reason for users and authorities to be aware of the update relates to the two lock states on mobiles – before first lock (BFU) and after first lock (AFU). In BFU, information and files on a phone are securely encrypted and completely inaccessible, even with complex extraction programmes. Therefore if cops seize a phone as evidence they will have less time to access the device. Phone thefts are now a £50million underworld industry, with most flogged or disassembled for parts in China. Advertisement People with phones still running Android 12 are advised to consider upgrading to a newer device. Security patches fix flaws that have been discovered in the software, which stops phones succumbing to hacking. Home Office figures show 90% of all 'theft from a person' crimes in London go unsolved, with a crook charged in only one per cent of cases. The unsolved figure is 86 per cent in England and Wales. Advertisement Due to the rise in phone thefts, the Met is using tracking tech and putting plain-clothed officers in the West End and Westminster, where 40% of all thefts occur. The City of London force is deploying bike-mounted police. Anna McEntee, at Compare the Market, said Londoners and those visiting the capital will be concerned by the substantial rise in phone thefts last year. She added that criminals are becoming "increasingly brazen, often using mopeds or e-bikes to make a quick getaway'. Advertisement The new security feature from Google is part of the April 2025 Google System release notes and is expected to apply to tablets but not wearables such as the Pixel Watch, televisions, or Android Auto Devices. Google hasn't said if users will be able to toggle this feature or change the time limit for rebooting. Since this feature is part of Google Play Services, those affected will see it without the phone going through a full system update. A BFU phone remains connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, meaning that if you lose your phone and it reboots, you'll still be able to use location-finding services. Advertisement 3 It's designed to protect Android phones from hackers
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Millions of phone owners get anti-theft ‘secret weapon' to stop thieves breaking into your mobile after snatching it
MILLIONS of phone owners are to get a new anti-theft "secret weapon" on their mobile to stop thieves accessing the device after snatching it. The security feature means Android phones will start to reboot automatically if they haven't been used for three days. 3 Phone-related crime is getting worse Credit: Getty 3 The new system means Android phones will reboot after three days Credit: Getty This means they will be It comes after a Figures show gangs and crooks took 70,137 mobiles last year — 192 a day. That is up a third from the 52,000 nicked in 2023, Met Police statistics show. Another important reason for users and authorities to be aware of the update relates to the two lock states on mobiles – before first lock (BFU) and after first lock (AFU). In BFU, information and files on a phone are securely encrypted and completely inaccessible, even with complex extraction programmes. Therefore if cops seize a phone as evidence they will have less time to access the device. Phone thefts are now a Most read in Tech People with phones still running Android 12 are advised to consider upgrading to a newer device. Security patches fix flaws that have been discovered in the software, which stops phones succumbing to hacking. Home Office figures show 90% of all 'theft from a person' crimes in London go unsolved, with a crook charged in only one per cent of cases. The unsolved figure is 86 per cent in England and Wales. Due to the rise in phone thefts, the Met is using tracking tech and putting plain-clothed officers in the West End and Westminster, where 40% of all thefts occur. The City of London force is deploying bike-mounted police. Anna McEntee, at Compare the Market, said Londoners and those visiting the capital will be concerned by the substantial rise in phone thefts last year. She added that criminals are becoming "increasingly brazen, often using mopeds or e-bikes to make a quick getaway'. The new security feature from Google is part of the April 2025 Google System release notes and is expected to apply to tablets but not wearables such as the Pixel Watch , televisions, or Android Auto Devices. Google hasn't said if users will be able to toggle this feature or change the time limit for rebooting. Read more on the Irish Sun Since this feature is part of Google Play Services, those affected will see it without the phone going through a full system update. A BFU phone remains connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, meaning that if you lose your phone and it reboots, you'll still be able to use location-finding services. 3 It's designed to protect Android phones from hackers Time to upgrade? By Millie Turner, Senior Technology & Science Reporter It's hard to know when it's time to upgrade your smartphone - especially when it 'does the job' just fine. Can make phone calls? Yes. Text? Of course. Surf the internet? Yep. Still use my apps? Absolutely. For some, a no-frills phone is all that's necessary. Glossy AI features that can summarise emails and touch up your pictures are not on everyone's wish list. Unfortunately, it's when devices lose security support that they need to be retired. Once a phonemaker stops fixing software bugs in its handsets, they can become risky to use. Vulnerabilities will emerge over time that will never be fixed—and this essentially gives hackers free rein to exploit devices and innocent owners. However, this can only happen if they're still in use.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Android feature prevents sensitive content in Google Messages
Have you ever stumbled upon a mysterious app in your Android system settings called "SafetyCore"? If so, you're not alone. Introduced in late 2024, this system service aims to enhance on-device privacy by detecting sensitive content like nudity and enabling features such as Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages. While Google assures users that SafetyCore operates locally without sharing data externally, it has still sparked confusion over automatic updates. Let's dive into what SafetyCore does, how it works and the steps you can take to disable it if you choose to do so. Stay protected & informed! Get security alerts & expert tech tips – sign up for Kurt's 'The CyberGuy Report' now. By definition, SafetyCore is a system service that provides on-device machine-learning infrastructure to help detect sensitive content. It was introduced as part of Google's Nov. 7, 2024, system update for Android 9 and later. Google initially described SafetyCore as a tool that supports privacy-preserving user protections for apps. One of its first visible uses was in Google Messages, where it enables Sensitive Content Warnings, a feature that blurs images potentially containing nudity and prompts users with additional options before they can view or send them. By default, Google System services automatically update your device with security, bug fixes and new features. Some updates are delivered via system services in separate Android packages. This maintains privacy, security and data isolation following the principle of least privilege because permissions are not shared with other functionality. Read On The Fox News App SafetyCore does more than detect nude images. Its built-in machine-learning functionality can also target, detect and filter images for sensitive content. There is no app icon, and it doesn't appear in the usual list of running applications. Users must navigate through Settings > Apps > Show system processes to find it. Best Antivirus For Androids - Cyberguy Picks 2025 Google maintains that SafetyCore is purely an on-device classification service and does not report or share scanned content with Google or other entities. The company argues that the service enhances security without compromising privacy, allowing apps to detect and filter unwanted content locally. We reached out to Google, and a spokesperson told Cyberguy, "Android provides many on-device protections that safeguard users against threats like malware, messaging spam and abuse protections, and phone scam protections, while preserving user privacy and keeping users in control of their data. "SafetyCore is a new Google system service for Android 9+ devices that provides the on-device infrastructure for securely and privately performing classification to help users detect unwanted content. Users are in control over SafetyCore, and SafetyCore only classifies specific content when an app requests it through an optionally enabled feature." Google also says that as part of its continuous investment in the transparency of its products, the company is going above and beyond, adding binary transparency to SafetyCore. This allows users and developers to verify that SafetyCore is truly privacy-preserving, just like Google says it is. Looking For More Ways To Lock Down Your Android? Here's How To Do It Settings may vary depending on your Android phone's manufacturer. (Note: We tested these steps on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.) If you wish to uninstall or disable SafetyCore on your Samsung Galaxy, follow the steps below: (Note: If you decide to disable or get rid of System SafetyCore, you may not be able to benefit from the new security and privacy features or enhancements that Google offers now or in the future.) Open the Settings app on your device Tap Apps Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find Android System SafetyCore Tap on Android System SafetyCore and check if the Uninstall option is available. If Uninstall is available, tap it to remove the service. If Uninstall is grayed out, you may only be able to Disable it If you wish to uninstall or disable SafetyCore on your Pixel device, follow the steps below: Settings may vary depending on your Android phone's manufacturer. (Note: We tested these steps on a Pixel 9 Pro.) Open the Settings app on your device Tap Apps Select See all apps Scroll through the list or use the search bar to find Android System SafetyCore. Tap on Android System SafetyCore Check if the Uninstall option is available. If Uninstall is available, tap it to remove the service. If Uninstall is grayed out, you may only be able to disable it How To Cancel Subscriptions On An Android To Save Money If you're concerned about Google's data collection and want to keep your personal information safe, here are four steps you can take. 1) Limit app permissions: Regularly review and restrict app permissions, especially for access to your camera, microphone, storage or location. If an app doesn't need access, revoke it in your device settings. 2) Disable background data and tracking: Prevent unnecessary tracking by turning off background data for apps that don't require constant internet access. You can also disable location tracking and opt out of Google's personalized ads in your account settings. 3) Use a VPN for secure browsing: A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic, preventing your ISP, Google or other entities from tracking your online activity. Privacy-focused VPNs are great options that do not log user data. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 4) Regularly clear personal data: Delete unnecessary stored data such as search history, location history and cached files. You can do this in your Google Account settings and within individual apps to minimize your digital footprint. SafetyCore is an interesting addition to Android, offering on-device content filtering with machine learning. While it aims to enhance privacy and security, some users might have questions about its presence and functionality. Whether you decide to keep it or explore disabling it, staying informed about your device's features is always a good idea. This way, you can make choices that best fit your needs and preferences for managing your Android device. Do you trust Google's claim that SafetyCore operates entirely on-device and does not share your data? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover. Follow Kurt on his social channels: Facebook YouTube Instagram Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: What is the best way to protect your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked? What is the best way to stay private, secure and anonymous while browsing the web? How can I get rid of robocalls with apps and data removal services? How do I remove my private data from the internet? New from Kurt: Try CyberGuy's new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!) CyberGuy's exclusive coupons and deals Copyright 2025 All rights article source: Android feature prevents sensitive content in Google Messages
Fox News
08-04-2025
- Fox News
Android feature prevents sensitive content in Google Messages
Have you ever stumbled upon a mysterious app in your Android system settings called "SafetyCore"? If so, you're not alone. Introduced in late 2024, this system service aims to enhance on-device privacy by detecting sensitive content like nudity and enabling features such as Sensitive Content Warnings in Google Messages. While Google assures users that SafetyCore operates locally without sharing data externally, it has still sparked confusion over automatic updates. Let's dive into what SafetyCore does, how it works and the steps you can take to disable it if you choose to do so. By definition, SafetyCore is a system service that provides on-device machine-learning infrastructure to help detect sensitive content. It was introduced as part of Google's Nov. 7, 2024, system update for Android 9 and later. Google initially described SafetyCore as a tool that supports privacy-preserving user protections for apps. One of its first visible uses was in Google Messages, where it enables Sensitive Content Warnings, a feature that blurs images potentially containing nudity and prompts users with additional options before they can view or send them. By default, Google System services automatically update your device with security, bug fixes and new features. Some updates are delivered via system services in separate Android packages. This maintains privacy, security and data isolation following the principle of least privilege because permissions are not shared with other functionality. SafetyCore does more than detect nude images. Its built-in machine-learning functionality can also target, detect and filter images for sensitive content. There is no app icon, and it doesn't appear in the usual list of running applications. Users must navigate through Settings > Apps > Show system processes to find it. Google maintains that SafetyCore is purely an on-device classification service and does not report or share scanned content with Google or other entities. The company argues that the service enhances security without compromising privacy, allowing apps to detect and filter unwanted content locally. We reached out to Google, and a spokesperson told Cyberguy, "Android provides many on-device protections that safeguard users against threats like malware, messaging spam and abuse protections, and phone scam protections, while preserving user privacy and keeping users in control of their data. "SafetyCore is a new Google system service for Android 9+ devices that provides the on-device infrastructure for securely and privately performing classification to help users detect unwanted content. Users are in control over SafetyCore, and SafetyCore only classifies specific content when an app requests it through an optionally enabled feature." Google also says that as part of its continuous investment in the transparency of its products, the company is going above and beyond, adding binary transparency to SafetyCore. This allows users and developers to verify that SafetyCore is truly privacy-preserving, just like Google says it is. Settings may vary depending on your Android phone's manufacturer. (Note: We tested these steps on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.) If you wish to uninstall or disable SafetyCore on your Samsung Galaxy, follow the steps below: (Note: If you decide to disable or get rid of System SafetyCore, you may not be able to benefit from the new security and privacy features or enhancements that Google offers now or in the future.) If you wish to uninstall or disable SafetyCore on your Pixel device, follow the steps below: Settings may vary depending on your Android phone's manufacturer. (Note: We tested these steps on a Pixel 9 Pro.) If you're concerned about Google's data collection and want to keep your personal information safe, here are four steps you can take. 1) Limit app permissions: Regularly review and restrict app permissions, especially for access to your camera, microphone, storage or location. If an app doesn't need access, revoke it in your device settings. 2) Disable background data and tracking: Prevent unnecessary tracking by turning off background data for apps that don't require constant internet access. You can also disable location tracking and opt out of Google's personalized ads in your account settings. 3) Use a VPN for secure browsing: A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic, preventing your ISP, Google or other entities from tracking your online activity. Privacy-focused VPNs are great options that do not log user data. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 4) Regularly clear personal data: Delete unnecessary stored data such as search history, location history and cached files. You can do this in your Google Account settings and within individual apps to minimize your digital footprint. SafetyCore is an interesting addition to Android, offering on-device content filtering with machine learning. While it aims to enhance privacy and security, some users might have questions about its presence and functionality. Whether you decide to keep it or explore disabling it, staying informed about your device's features is always a good idea. This way, you can make choices that best fit your needs and preferences for managing your Android device. Do you trust Google's claim that SafetyCore operates entirely on-device and does not share your data? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
