Samsung Galaxy enhanced security updates overview

As incidents of phone theft continue to rise around the world, Samsung is calling on Galaxy users to activate the latest anti-theft features now available on their devices.

These updates reflect Samsung’s commitment to delivering smarter, stronger protection – helping users safeguard their data and stay in control, even in high-risk situations.

Additional theft protection

Samsung recently started rolling out One UI 7 with security updates to existing features

Samsung recently started rolling out One UI 7 with security updates to existing features, including additional theft protection and anti-robbery features.

These will now also be available to even more devices, having started with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series in February, and now expanding across more Galaxy smartphones throughout the year.

Samsung is introducing new security updates to better protect users in the event of phone theft. One major update is Theft Protection – a multi-layered suite of features developed to safeguard personal data, even in high-risk situations such as robbery.

Theft protection

Theft Protection builds on standard Android safeguards, which are effective in typical theft scenarios where the thief doesn’t know the PIN.

These features respond automatically and intelligently to suspicious activity

With One UI 7, Samsung goes further by introducing additional protections that address more advanced or high-risk threat scenarios, including cases where access credentials may have been exposed.

Galaxy users can now enable a range of new security measures, including Identity Check, designed to offer stronger protection in complex theft scenarios. These features respond automatically and intelligently to suspicious activity, helping ensure that personal data remains secure and under the user’s control in these critical moments.

Features explained  

Existing and updated features in Theft Protection include:

• Theft Detection Lock: This uses machine learning to detect motions associated with theft such as snatching, and instantly locks the screen to stop unauthorised access.
• Offline Device Lock: The screen gets automatically locked if the device is disconnected from the network for an extended period, ensuring protection even when the device is offline.
• Remote Lock: If the device has already been stolen, users can lock it remotely using their phone number and a quick verification step. Remote Lock also allows users to regain control of their account and explore additional recovery options.

New Anti-Robbery features released on One UI 7 include:

• Identity Check: In unfamiliar locations, the ‘Safe Places’ feature requires biometric authentication for any changes to sensitive security settings, adding an additional layer of protection when a PIN may have been compromised.
• Security Delay: A key component of Identity Check, it triggers a one-hour waiting period if someone attempts to reset biometric data. This crucial buffer gives users time to lock the stolen phone from a connected device, such as a PC or tablet, before unauthorised access can occur.

These updated theft features are now becoming available on previous flagship devices, starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip 5, S23 and S22 series, with future updates planned for even more Galaxy smartphones.