Google’s mobile operating system Android will now automatically restart if the phone is locked for three consecutive days.
Monday, tech giants Will update to Google Play Servicesthe core part of Android, provides functionality for applications and the operating system itself. Listed under “Security and Privacy” is a new security feature that “will automatically restart your device if locked for 3 consecutive days.”
last year, Apple launches the same features on iOS. The thought behind adding an automatic restart over time is that life is more difficult for people trying to unlock or extract data from a phone; for example, enforcing the law with a forensic analysis device, for example Cellebrite or Magnet forensics.
Before turning on and unlocking the phone, some of the data stored internally is fully encrypted and difficult to access without a user password. This is called the “Unlock First” state. On the other hand, after unlocking, some data will be decrypted and potentially accessed through cruel passwords or exploiting security flaws, which is usually how law enforcement forensic devices work. This state is called “after the first unlock”.
Google did not respond to a request for comment, asking what the motivation behind the new feature was.
