Your Android phone is getting a new security secret weapon - and it's a big deal
Published on: 2025-07-15 16:15:17
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
A new security feature from Google means that Android devices might soon start rebooting automatically -- and that's not a bad thing. In a recent Google Play Services update, Google details how your Android phone will soon reboot if you haven't used it for three consecutive days.
How reboots help
This is important for two reasons. The first is because, to open a phone after a reboot, you must enter a PIN -- no biometrics or other method of unlocking. PIN-only access means the phone, and the data on it, is harder to access for anyone with bad intentions. If you're one of the people using a phone without any sort of unlock protection, this is a significant layer of security.
Also: Why rebooting your phone daily is your best defense against zero-click attacks
The second reason is a little more technical, but just as important. Mobile phones have two lock states: Before first lock (BFU) and after first lock (AFU). In BFU, information and files on a phone are securely e
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