Android 16 is getting a little more secure by stealing this iOS feature (APK teardown)
Apr 1
/
Android Authority
We’ve known for months that Google was working on an Advanced Protection Mode for Android 16. This mode will block the sideloading of apps, enable memory tagging extensions, and disable 2G connections. Now, it looks like Google is adding a security feature we first saw on an Android ROM and Apple devices.
We conducted a teardown of the Google Play Services app (version 25.11.34) and discovered a reference to an inactivity reboot feature. Check out the string below.
<string name="aapm_inactivity_reboot_feature_summary">Restarts device if it remains locked for 3 days</string></code>
The string name includes the term “AAPM,” which suggests it belongs to the Android Advanced Protection Mode. The snippet also briefly explains the feature, noting that your device will be restarted if it’s locked for three days.
This feature sounds very similar to Apple’s inactivity reboot feature. Apple quietly introduced this security option in iOS 18, and it indeed forces your iPhone to restart if it’s been locked for three consecutive days. This feature makes it tougher for nefarious actors to access user data and unlock your phone.
Apple wasn’t the first to implement this feature, though. The privacy-focused GrapheneOS has long offered an optional auto-reboot feature in the name of security. In fact, the Android ROM even moved from the default 72-hour auto-reboot window to just 18 hours. The GrapheneOS team also reported Pixel and Galaxy phone firmware vulnerabilities back in January 2024 that affected devices not at rest. However, these flaws didn’t affect devices at rest (i.e. devices that were turned off or that remained locked after being turned on).
We conducted a teardown of the Google Play Services app (version 25.11.34) and discovered a reference to an inactivity reboot feature. Check out the string below.
<string name="aapm_inactivity_reboot_feature_summary">Restarts device if it remains locked for 3 days</string></code>
The string name includes the term “AAPM,” which suggests it belongs to the Android Advanced Protection Mode. The snippet also briefly explains the feature, noting that your device will be restarted if it’s locked for three days.
This feature sounds very similar to Apple’s inactivity reboot feature. Apple quietly introduced this security option in iOS 18, and it indeed forces your iPhone to restart if it’s been locked for three consecutive days. This feature makes it tougher for nefarious actors to access user data and unlock your phone.
Apple wasn’t the first to implement this feature, though. The privacy-focused GrapheneOS has long offered an optional auto-reboot feature in the name of security. In fact, the Android ROM even moved from the default 72-hour auto-reboot window to just 18 hours. The GrapheneOS team also reported Pixel and Galaxy phone firmware vulnerabilities back in January 2024 that affected devices not at rest. However, these flaws didn’t affect devices at rest (i.e. devices that were turned off or that remained locked after being turned on).
Either way, we’re glad to see Google working on its own inactivity reboot feature as this should be a major security boost for the entire Android ecosystem.
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1. Your seat may be transferred to another attendee from your agency at no additional cost.
2. Your seat may be moved to our next available training date, even if it is in another location.
3. You can be granted 1 year's worth of access to our skills center and all the training it contains.
SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM REFUND POLICY
Our Symposium aims to provide the most beneficial and practical experiences for our students. From providing resources, special guest speakers, and also networking and bonding experiences. All of this is costs for us at Intellect-LE. We do our best to cover the travel costs for our instructors as well as resource give aways for students and all of that is paid prior to the course dates. If we have a large amount of students cancel before class, this incurs a large out of pocket expense for use and we would not be able to sustain our course. When you or your agency registers and pays for class we believe you are attending. We understand that circumstances arise so while we do not refund paid seats, we do offer the following options;
1. Your seat may be transferred to another attendee from your agency at no additional cost.
2. Your seat may be moved to our next available training date, even if it is in another location.
3. You can be granted 1 year's worth of access to our skills center and all the training it contains.