Google aims to enhance security by adding several new features to Android OS. The company reportedly plans to introduce a new security feature called Intrusion Detection with Android 16. This feature will help users analyze data in the event of suspicious activity. Since Samsung has been developing One UI 8 on top of Android 16, Galaxy users can also expect a similar security feature.
Intrusion Detection will track suspicious activity securely
Last month, Google released Android 16 Beta 4, the final beta build before the stable rollout. While Beta 4 did not include the Intrusion Detection feature, folks over at Android Authority have discovered its existence in the APK file of the Google Play Services app (beta version 25.18.31). This suggests Google is testing some features internally and might directly include them in the stable build.
The publication says Intrusion Detection securely stores a private, encrypted log of system and network activities, allowing users to review data. For instance, if you detect any suspicious activity on your device, then the feature will allow you to review stored data to identify the issue. The system collects several log files such as USB events, app installs, Bluetooth connections, lock screen info, Wi-Fi, and browsing history.
Now, one question might arise on how Google maintains users’ log files securely. After all, you do not want highly sensitive activities ending up in the wrong hands. Rest assured, your log files are end-to-end encrypted and securely stored in a private, encrypted section of your Google Drive. On top of that, you can also decrypt the log through your Google account password and device lock screen.
This feature might arrive as part of Advanced Protection Mode
The publication further says that this security feature might not be coming to older versions of Android just yet. It could arrive as part of Android 16 and its Advanced Protection Mode. Spotted in Android 16 Beta 4, Advanced Protection mode aims to improve device security by blocking app sideloading, preventing 2G connections, and more.
As of now, the feature is hidden within the APK file of the beta version of the Google Play Services app. So, there’s no guarantee that Google will add this feature in the upcoming Android 16 release. But if it does, it should be available for Galaxy users too when Samsung pushes One UI 8 to its devices.
