Android users may soon be able to remotely brick their devices

Android users may soon have the option of bricking their device remotely, in the event of it being stolen. A change, namely Change 235361, is implemented in the Android Open Source Project and "adds support to brick a device." As per a report by Android Authority, it allows manufacturers to define partitions that can be remotely wiped, and also lets users brick their device remotely via Recovery. This measure should make the device unusable, rendering it meaningless to anyone wanting to gain access to the user’s personal data, or simply wishing to resell the device. Exactly how this change may be implemented in future versions of Android is not yet known. It should also be noted that while the change was implemented in AOSP on June 2, it does not necessarily mean that it will be utilised in one of the future versions of Android.

However, for now, Google provides users a number of ways to help locate their device, if it is lost or stolen. Last week, the company’s My Account hub started offering a new Find My Phone section that can be used to access a list of devices owned by the user. Clicking on any of them brings up a list of options such as ringing the device or locating it on Google Maps. Further, users also have the option of remotely locking their phone(s) with a message, and provide a callback number for anyone who finds it. Last year, Google introduced a feature wherein users could locate their device by searching “Find my phone” on Google.

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Shrey Pacheco

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