On Monday, Samsung UK encouraged users of compatible Galaxy devices to enable and update their latest anti-theft features. This initiative coincides with the UK Home Office’s launch of a nationwide campaign aimed at addressing the increase in smartphone thefts across the nation. The company’s UK branch reported that it has sent a public safety security alert to over 40 million Samsung account holders in the UK through various customer communication channels and the Samsung Members platform.
Samsung to Broaden Anti-Theft Features Across More Galaxy Devices
In a statement shared on its UK newsroom page, Samsung confirmed its commitment to this awareness campaign by utilizing out-of-home advertising strategies at the Piccadilly Lights, in addition to deploying ads in tube and train stations across central London. The campaign will also leverage online video, connected TV, and broadcaster video on demand channels to reach a wider audience.
The tech giant noted enhancements to its existing anti-theft features with the release of the One UI 7 update. The new offerings include the Anti-Robbery suite, which features Identity Check and Security Delay. Previously available only on the Galaxy S25 series, these features are now being rolled out to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S22 series, as well as Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 5, and Z Flip 5. Additional devices will be included later this year.
Samsung’s Theft Protection suite combines three primary features. The first, Theft Detection Lock, employs machine learning technology to identify sudden movements indicative of theft, such as snatching, automatically locking the screen in response. Another feature, Offline Device Lock, secures the screen if the device has been disconnected from the network for a prolonged period. Lastly, Remote Lock enables users to lock their device remotely through their phone number and a simple verification process.
The recent One UI 7 update has introduced new Anti-Robbery functionalities. The first of these, Identity Check, requires biometric authentication for any modifications to security settings when users are in unfamiliar locations. The second, Security Delay, imposes a one-hour waiting period for users attempting to reset biometric data, effectively preventing thieves from quickly gaining control of a device. This feature is designed to give users enough time to lock their stolen phones from a connected device before unauthorized access can occur.
