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Google Rolls Out Auto-Reboot Security Feature for Android Devices

The update, now gradually deploying via Google Play Services, enhances data protection by restarting locked devices after three days of inactivity.

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The Google Android logo and mascot, known as Bugdroid by the community, is being displayed as a statue resembling a strawberry ice-cream cone on Android Avenue at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on March 25, 2024. (Image: Joan Cros/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Google's new auto-reboot feature, part of the Google Play Services v25.14 update, automatically restarts Android phones and tablets locked for three consecutive days.
  • This functionality returns devices to the 'Before First Unlock' (BFU) state, ensuring user data remains encrypted and inaccessible without a passcode.
  • The feature aims to improve security by hindering unauthorized access and forensic data extraction, aligning with a similar measure introduced by Apple last year.
  • The update is currently rolling out gradually to compatible Android devices, excluding categories like Auto, TV, and WearOS.
  • Uncertainty remains regarding user notification and whether the feature can be disabled, raising questions about its implementation and user control.