By default, Private Space is turned off. After upgrading to Android 15, you can activate it by going to Settings > Security & Privacy > Private Space, and setting it up with your screen lock or another security method.

1. AI-Powered Detection:
   • Android 15 uses advanced AI algorithms to detect unusual movement patterns that may indicate theft. For example, if the system detects rapid movements that suggest the phone is being stolen while someone is fleeing on a bike or running, it triggers an automatic response.
2. Automatic Lock:
   • Upon detecting potential theft, the device automatically locks itself. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing your personal data. This lock occurs instantly, ensuring that your sensitive information remains protected even if the thief tries to access it right away.
3. Alert System:
   • Some implementations may include an alert system that notifies you or a pre-set emergency contact if a potential theft is detected, adding an extra layer of awareness and response.

• Reset Prevention :-

1. Enhanced Authentication:
   • Android 15 introduces a more robust reset prevention mechanism. To perform a factory reset, the thief must enter your device passcode or Google account credentials. This prevents unauthorized users from resetting the device and wiping your data to sell it quickly.
2. Account Linking:
   • The device is tightly linked to your Google account, which means a factory reset requires verification of your credentials. This process adds a significant hurdle for thieves, making the stolen device essentially worthless without the correct credentials.
3. Device Recovery Options:
   • In addition to reset prevention, Android 15 includes improved recovery options for users. If you regain access to your device, you can use Google’s Find My Device service to track, lock, or erase your phone remotely if needed.
4. Enhanced Encryption:
   • The reset prevention feature is backed by advanced encryption, ensuring that even if a thief manages to get past the basic security, your data remains encrypted and inaccessible.

These combined features make Android 15 a powerful tool in protecting your phone from theft and ensuring that your personal data stays secure. With these enhancements, Google aims to reduce the risk of data breaches and make it much harder for stolen devices to be exploited or resold.

Also Read:

• How to Enable Private Space and Hide Apps in Pixel Phone

• Motorola Android 15 Update: Exciting New Features and Device Eligibility

• Discover One UI Update: Key Features and Benefits of One UI 6.1.1

3. Fraud and Scam Protection

While there are various methods to set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for your online accounts, many people use one-time passwords (OTPs). Android 15 steps up your security by adding a new privacy feature that protects these OTPs and other sensitive authentication codes from prying eyes. This enhancement guards against malicious actors trying to steal your codes and ensures they’re blocked from being viewed by remote onlookers or while you’re recording your screen.

• OTP and Authentication Code Protection

1. Secure Display of OTPs: Android 15 introduces a new privacy enhancement that ensures one-time passwords (OTPs) and sensitive authentication codes are protected from unauthorized viewing. When you receive an OTP, the system blocks it from being visible to other apps or remote viewers.
2. Screen Recording Protection: To prevent OTPs and other codes from being captured during screen recording, Android 15 automatically hides these elements from the recording. This adds a layer of security to your sensitive data, especially when sharing your screen for support or tutorials.

• Secure Authentication Practices

1. Biometric and Password Protection: In addition to OTPs, Android 15 enhances the security of biometric and password authentication. The system ensures that your biometric data and passwords are securely stored and not vulnerable to attacks.
2. Adaptive Authentication: Android 15 uses adaptive authentication techniques that assess the risk level of login attempts. If an attempt is deemed suspicious or out of the ordinary, additional verification steps are required to access your accounts.

• Privacy Controls and Customization

1. Granular Privacy Settings: Android 15 allows you to customize privacy settings for individual apps, giving you control over how they handle and display sensitive information like OTPs and codes.
2. App Permissions Management: The system provides more detailed controls for managing app permissions, ensuring that apps only access the data they need and nothing more.

4. Privacy Sandbox

Taking a cue from Apple, Google has upgraded the Privacy Sandbox for Android 15. This long-term project aims to overhaul how third parties handle user data. The goal is to provide a privacy-focused solution that shields your information while still allowing the mobile ad industry to function effectively.

Instead of relying on traditional ad-tracking methods, Privacy Sandbox introduces new, privacy-centric approaches that make it harder for trackers to build detailed profiles of your online activities. This upgrade enhances your privacy, boosts transparency, and gives you more control over your data. It also ensures you see relevant ads without compromising your personal information or user experience.

Here’s an overview of the Privacy Sandbox feature in Android 15:

1. Purpose: Aims to overhaul data sharing practices to enhance user privacy while maintaining a functional advertising ecosystem.
2. Ad-Tracking Alternatives: Replaces traditional ad-tracking methods with privacy-focused solutions, making it harder for third parties to build detailed profiles of users’ online behavior.
3. Enhanced Privacy: Limits the amount of personal data shared with third parties, protecting user information from invasive tracking.
4. Transparency and Control: Provides users with more visibility and control over how their data is used and shared.
5. Relevant Ads: Ensures that users still receive relevant advertisements without compromising their privacy.
6. User Experience: Strives to improve user experience by balancing privacy with effective advertising.

5. Deceptive Apps Scanning

Android 15 comes with a handy feature that scans apps in real time directly on your device. It looks out for phishing attempts and other shady behaviors. If it spots anything unusual, it sends the details to Google Play Protect to verify the threat and alert you.

Here are the key details:

• On-Device Live Scanning

1. Real-Time Monitoring: The feature performs continuous scanning of app activity directly on your device. It monitors apps for suspicious behavior, such as phishing attempts, fraudulent activities, or any other deceptive practices.
2. Privacy Focused: Scanning is done locally on your device, ensuring that your personal data and device information remain private. The details of the scanning process are not shared with Google or any external servers unless a threat is detected.

• Threat Detection and Verification

1. Unusual Behavior Alerts: If the scanning detects any unusual or potentially harmful behavior from an app, it flags it for further inspection. This includes checking for known phishing schemes and other types of fraud.
2. Google Play Protect Integration: When a potential threat is identified, the system sends the app’s information to Google Play Protect. This service then verifies whether the app poses a real threat and provides you with appropriate warnings and recommendations.

• User Notifications

1. Alerts and Warnings: If an app is confirmed to be malicious or deceptive, you will receive a notification from Google Play Protect. This helps you take immediate action, such as removing the app or reporting it.

• Default Activation

1. Enabled by Default: The scanning feature is automatically turned on when you update to Android 15. This ensures that you are always protected without having to manually activate the feature.

Importantly, this scanning is done privately—your device and personal information stay secure and aren’t shared with Google.  This security feature is turned on by default. You can find it by going to Settings > Security & Privacy > More Security & Privacy > Scanning for Deceptive Apps.

6. Unencrypted Cellular Network Alerts

After updating to Android 15, you’ll get alerts if your cellular network is unencrypted. An unencrypted network can leave your voice calls and SMS messages vulnerable to interception by criminals or even tampering. These warnings help you stay aware of potential security risks.

• How It Works

1. Automatic Detection: Android 15 continuously monitors your network connection. If it detects that the cellular network is unencrypted, it will trigger a warning notification.
2. Alert Notification: The system sends a visible alert to your device, informing you that your network traffic, including voice calls and SMS messages, is not protected by encryption.

• User Actions

1. Network Switch: If you receive a warning, consider switching to a different, encrypted network if possible, or use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for added security.
2. Security Awareness: The alerts help you stay aware of the security status of your network connections and encourage you to take appropriate actions to protect your privacy.

• Managing Alerts

1. Settings Access: You can view or manage these notifications under Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Network Security. This section provides options for further network security settings and notifications management

The Unencrypted Cellular Network Alerts feature in Android 15 enhances your awareness and control over your network security, helping to safeguard your communications from potential threats.

7. Wi-Fi Security Enhancement 

If you frequently connect your Android phone to public Wi-Fi networks or use Wi-Fi at places like cafés, Android 15 has a feature to help protect your privacy. By default, it activates MAC address randomization for all Wi-Fi connections.

This means your phone will use a different MAC address for each network you connect to, making it much harder for network operators and others to track your activity across different Wi-Fi spots. You can also choose to stop sharing your device name with the network. Plus, Android 15 will alert you with a privacy warning if the Wi-Fi network doesn’t support MAC randomization.

Here’s a more detailed look at how MAC Address Randomization in Android 15 enhances your privacy when using public Wi-Fi:

• How It Works:

• 1. Unique MAC Addresses: Android 15 generates a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address for each Wi-Fi network your device connects to. This means that every time you connect to a new Wi-Fi network, your phone uses a different MAC address, making it difficult to track you based on a single, static identifier.
  2. Prevents Tracking: By using random MAC addresses, it becomes significantly harder for entities like advertisers or network administrators to build a profile of your online behavior or track your movements across different locations.

• Device Name Privacy

1. Stop Sharing Device Name: You have the option to prevent your device from sharing its name with the network. This additional layer of privacy ensures that even if your MAC address is not randomized, your device’s identity remains obscured.

• Privacy Warnings

1. Network Compatibility: Android 15 will notify you if you connect to a Wi-Fi network that doesn’t support MAC address randomization. This warning helps you be aware of potential privacy risks associated with using such networks.
2. Actionable Alerts: The warning encourages you to reconsider using the network or to use alternative privacy measures, such as a VPN, to protect your data.

• Managing Settings

1. Default Activation: MAC address randomization is enabled by default to ensure that all users benefit from increased privacy without needing to adjust settings manually.
2. Customizing Privacy Settings: You can review and manage your MAC address randomization settings by going to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Advanced > MAC Address Randomization. Here, you can choose between using a randomized MAC address or a fixed one for specific networks if needed.

Android 15 introduces several powerful privacy and security features designed to enhance your overall mobile experience. From Private Space, which creates a secure area for sensitive data, to Theft Protection and Reset Prevention, which safeguards your device against theft and unauthorized resets, Android 15 is focused on keeping your information safe.