Google's mobile operating system Android will automatically restart if your phone is locked for three consecutive days.
On Monday, Tech Giant pushed an update to Google Play Services, the core part of Android that provides functionality for the app and the operating system itself. Listed under “Security and Privacy” is a new security feature that “automatically restarts your device if it is locked for 3 consecutive days”.
Last year, Apple launched the same iOS feature. The thought behind adding an automatic restart after a certain period of inactivity is to make life more difficult for those trying to unlock or extract data from the phone. For example, law enforcement agencies using forensic analytical devices such as those created by Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics.
Before the phone is turned on and unlocked, certain data stored inside is completely encrypted, making it difficult to access without a user's passcode. This is known as the “before the first unlock” state. On the other hand, once the unlock is unlocked, some data will be decrypted and the passcode may be accessed by using BruteForcing or security flaws. This state is known as “after the first unlock.”
Google will not respond to requests for comments and what motive is behind this new feature?