Samsung recently started rolling out One UI 7 with security updates to existing features, including additional theft protection features. These will now also be available to even more devices, having started with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series in February, and now expanding across more Galaxy smartphones throughout the year. 

Samsung is introducing new security updates to better protect users in the event of phone theft. One major update is “Theft Protection” – a multi-layered suite of features developed to safeguard personal data. 

Galaxy users can now enable a range of new security measures, including “Identity Check”, designed to offer stronger protection. These features respond automatically and intelligently to unauthorized activity, helping to keep personal data  secure and under the user’s control in these critical moments. 

Existing and updated features in Theft Protection include: 

• Theft Detection Lock: This feature can be turned on under the security and privacy section in the settings.  

• Offline Device Lock: The screen gets automatically locked if the device is disconnected from the carrier network and wifi for an extended period adding an layer of protection when your device is offline.. 

• Remote Lock: If the device has been stolen or misplaced, go to android.com/lock and enter the phone number of your stolen/misplaced phone to remotely lock your device. Remote Lock also allows users to regain control of their account and explore additional recovery options.
• Identity Check: In unfamiliar locations, the ‘Safe Places’ feature requires biometric authentication for any changes to sensitive security settings, adding an additional layer of protection when a PIN may have been compromised. 

• Security Delay: A key component of Identity Check, it triggers a one-hour waiting period if someone attempts to reset biometric data. This crucial buffer gives users time to lock the stolen phone such as a PC or tablet, before unauthorized access can occur. 

These updated features will become available on more Galaxy devices with future updates.  

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Further steps to take if your Samsung Galaxy device is lost or stolen 

Find my Phone Lock: How to remotely lock your Samsung Galaxy device: 

• Turn Find my mobile and location sharing on in your phone’s settings. 

• Sign into smartthingsfind.samsung.com using your Samsung account 

• Make sure you have registrered your desired mobile device to your Samsung account. 

• Select your phone on the left-hand side of the page, then choose Lost Mode in the device details section.  

• Create a PIN to unlock your phone if recovered, and enter it twice to confirm. 

• When you are ready, select the Lock button and verify your Samsung account to activate Lost mode 

• If your device is recovered, you can unlock it using the PIN that was created when setting up lost mode on your device 

How to remotely delete data on your Samsung Galaxy device:  

• Turn Find my mobile and location sharing on in your phone’s settings. 

• Visit the smartthingsfind.samsung.com website 

• Make sure you have registrered your desired mobile device to your Samsung account. 

• Select the phone you want to erase and choose Erase Data 

• Verify your Samsung account credentials 

• Review the information provided and tap Erase to confirm 

• All the data on your mobile, including Samsung Pay information, will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered 

• This will also reset your phone, meaning you won’t be able to locate and control it via Samsung Find 

How to remotely change your Samsung and/or Google account passwords:  

• It is recommended to change the passwords for your Samsung and Google accounts (or whichever accounts are linked to your device) by signing in through their respective websites 

• Once changed, you will be signed out of all connected devices, except the one you’re using 

• This prevents unauthorized access to account-linked features and protects your personal information 

Other remote features available:  

• Ring: Make your device ring even if it’s set to silent or vibrate in the SmartThings website. 

• Battery Management: Activate power-saving settings to keep your device on longer and improve the chances of recovery 

Other ways to locate Galaxy devices 

Find your phone using your Galaxy watch (WearOS 5 or higher): 

• Swipe down from the top of your Galaxy Watch to open Quick settings 

• Tap the Find My Phone icon. Make sure you have connected your desired phone to your Galaxy Watch beforehand.  

• Tap Start to begin the search – your phone’s ringtone will sound 

• Once found, tap Stop on your watch or the X icon on your phone 

Find your Galaxy Watch:  

• Turn on the “Samsung Find” settings on your Galaxy Watch. 

• Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone 

• Tap Find My Watch (or Find My Band / Find My Gear, depending on your device) 

• If connected via Bluetooth, tap Start 

• Your watch will vibrate and play a sound (depending on model) 

• Once found, tap the X icon on your watch or Stop on your phone 

Find your Galaxy Buds:  

• Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone or tablet 

• Tap Find My Earbuds 

• Tap Start – your earbuds will begin beeping and gradually increase in volume for three minutes 

• Once found, tap Stop 

Contact the authorities and your mobile network provider:  

• Once taken the steps above, report your lost or stolen device to the police and record a crime incident report 

• Contact your mobile network provider to freeze your contract and prevent unauthorized usage 

Learn more about how Samsung Secure Wi-Fi works here.

* This content was originally published on Inverse on December 23, 2022. Click here for more.

¹ Samsung collaborated with Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to conduct an online survey between November and December 2022 with a sample of 1,000 U.S. residents between 18 and 25 years of age.

* This content was originally published on Inverse on December 23, 2022. Click here for more.

¹ Samsung collaborated with Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to conduct an online survey between November and December 2022 with a sample of 1,000 U.S. residents between 18 and 25 years of age.

* This content was originally published on Elite Daily on December 23, 2022. Click here for more.

¹ Samsung collaborated with Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to conduct an online survey between November and December 2022 with a sample of 1,000 U.S. residents between 18 and 25 years of age.

* This content was originally published on Elite Daily on December 23, 2022. Click here for more.

¹ Samsung collaborated with Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to conduct an online survey between November and December 2022 with a sample of 1,000 U.S. residents between 18 and 25 years of age.

Learn more about how the Security & Privacy Dashboard helps you manage app permissions on your Galaxy devices here.

* This content was originally published on Bustle on December 22, 2022. Click here for more.

¹ Samsung collaborated with Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to conduct an online survey between November and December 2022 with a sample of 1,000 U.S. residents between 18 and 25 years of age.

Samsung Electronics’ Samsung Knox security platform is 10 years old! Named after one of the world’s most heavily guarded places, it was first introduced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2013.

That’s a decade of world-leading mobile protection for users around the world, during which Samsung Knox evolved into a holistic security platform synonymous with safeguarding billions of consumers and businesses. And now, Samsung is addressing the next frontier of device security with Knox Matrix.

Bringing Security to an Increasingly Connected World

Knox Matrix is Samsung’s vision for a future wherein devices connected in an ecosystem can protect each other — as well as their users. It is a comprehensive approach to security, which will become increasingly essential as more devices and aspects of our lives become connected.

Many users around the world already own an array of connected devices, from mobile devices and TVs to refrigerators and robot vacuum cleaners. The presence of over 14 billion connected devices on the market demonstrates the vastness of this landscape, which shows no signs of shrinking.

Samsung is aware that despite the benefits, increased connectivity has the potential to lead to more exploitations. Traditional security infrastructure that protects single devices will be unable to keep up, as one compromised device stands the chance of impacting others within the same ecosystem. Knox Matrix will address this challenge through a revolutionary concept that paves the way for multi-device security for mobile phones, TVs, home appliances and more.

Samsung devices that are empowered with Knox Matrix work to protect one another in a trusted network. If one element is compromised, Knox Matrix will isolate it from the ecosystem in order to protect the others. Having Knox Matrix supported across devices can effectively turn a smart home into a smart shield — the more devices a user has connected, the stronger their overall security.

There are currently three critical features of Knox Matrix that ensure its success. Trust Chain has devices monitoring each other for threats. Credential Sync secures user information as data is moved between devices; and Cross Platform SDK will enable devices on various operating systems and platforms (including but not limited to Android, Tizen and Windows) to join Knox Matrix with consistent security standards. This way, we can keep devices safe even in a hyper-connected world.

Knox Matrix manages all this within a private blockchain, allowing compatible devices to check each other for breaches and ensure safety with intelligent threat monitoring. With these steps in place and more features to be introduced, users will be able to enjoy multiple connected devices safely and conveniently.

The Path to the Next Frontier: Stronger Together

Creating the foundations for the next era of device security requires careful consideration. Knox Matrix’s development is going strong, but there are challenges on the way to the next frontier. These include reconciling the many different types of products, with varying operating systems and security standards, into a frictionless system able to work as one.

As devices become more connected, Samsung must also ensure they are not more complicated to use. With Knox Matrix, we are working to offer users transparency and choice along with protection. Users should be safe in the knowledge that they can make informed decisions about their devices, so they can be protected without hassle. We anticipate that Knox Matrix will alert users of potentially unsafe situations, such as the use of old firmware, offering suggestions for any next steps.

The power of Knox Matrix to protect connected ecosystems will be demonstrated in phases, starting with Samsung Galaxy products, such as smartphones and tablets. Knox Matrix-compatible models will be available from 2024, initially with the three core features mentioned above and more expected to follow via updates. This will expand to cover Samsung’s home appliance devices within the next two to three years, followed by partner devices. Development is already underway for partner device compatibility.

A Trusted Record of Secure Innovations

Samsung already has a long history of enabling different kinds of devices to work seamlessly together through SmartThings. In line with the company’s philosophy of open collaboration, Samsung has also been working closely with the most trusted industry partners and the wider security community to define and expand security standards, by better identifying flaws before they become problematic. More eyes, more heads, better solutions. This background serves as a key foundation for all Samsung Galaxy devices, along with end-to-end protection and real-time threat detection that is built into every single layer of its products.

Knox Matrix is just the latest development in the innovative history of Samsung Knox security. Samsung most recently introduced Knox Vault, a key security solution that isolates users’ most sensitive data to ensure it never falls into the wrong hands.

Previous evolutions included TrustZone, which provided a secure environment within the main operating system to run sensitive applications and processes separately from regular software. As such, work and play could coexist securely on the same device.

Samsung Knox also evolved into Knox Suite[1] in order to help businesses and key institutions around the world efficiently secure, deploy and manage their fleet of devices with customizable, easy-to-manage software and end-to-end security.

It’s no wonder that industry analysts recognize Samsung Knox with top ratings, and multiple government agencies awarded certifications to Samsung Knox throughout the past decade. That’s why Samsung is proud to say: Knox is one of the most trusted security platforms in the world thanks to its defense-grade security.

By merit of this formidable track record, we are confident Samsung Knox is best placed to define the next era of device security. Connected technology will help us create better lives and better experiences — and more connectivity doesn’t necessarily have to mean more risk. With Samsung Knox, Samsung is setting the foundation for a safer tomorrow to be stronger together.

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[1] Requires separate license key (purchased separately).