TLDR;
- Samsung is urging UK Galaxy users to activate new anti-theft features as part of a broader effort to reduce phone theft.
- The One UI 7 update brings advanced security tools like Identity Check and Security Delay to protect user data during theft incidents.
- Firm is collaborating with the Home Office and deploying a major awareness campaign across London and digital channels.
- The enhanced anti-theft features are now available on many Galaxy models, with more set to receive updates throughout 2025.
Samsung has issued a direct call to its UK users, urging them to activate advanced anti-theft protections on Galaxy devices in a move designed to support national efforts in tackling mobile phone crime.
Samsung ramps up anti-theft tech
As per a Monday announcement, the initiative, backed by the UK Home Office, is being delivered through a multi-channel campaign targeting more than 40 million Samsung account holders in the region.
As phone theft incidents continue to rise across urban centres in the UK, Samsung is intensifying efforts to equip users with tools to deter criminal activity and protect sensitive data. The campaign coincides with the company’s wider rollout of One UI 7, its latest operating system update, which introduces new security enhancements across a growing range of Galaxy smartphones.
Samsung aligns with government efforts
The latest update brings powerful new features such as Theft Detection Lock and Security Delay to the forefront of the company’s strategy. These tools are built on Samsung’s Knox Security Platform, a proprietary system that aims to provide enterprise-grade privacy for all users. Samsung’s collaboration with the Home Office and other industry players reflects a shared goal: reducing the impact of mobile phone theft and improving public safety.
Annika Bizon, Vice President of Mobile Experience for Samsung UK and Ireland, emphasized the importance of this collective action. She said that the security of users must remain a top priority and that Samsung would continue working closely with government and industry to evolve its safeguards in response to new threats.
One UI 7 adds intelligent security upgrades
The One UI 7 update introduces smarter anti-theft capabilities, including Identity Check, a feature that uses biometric verification in unfamiliar locations to prevent unauthorized changes to device settings. This is coupled with Security Delay, which triggers a timed lock when someone attempts to modify biometric data, giving users a critical window to remotely secure their phone.
Alongside these additions, existing protections like Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock have been reinforced. Offline Device Lock ensures that a phone disconnected from mobile or Wi-Fi networks will still lock if left idle, while Remote Lock enables users to secure a stolen device and manage recovery efforts from another device or computer.
The full suite of Theft Protection features is now rolling out to a wide range of Galaxy devices, including older flagship models such as the S22, S23, Z Fold5 and Flip5 series. Samsung has confirmed that more devices will receive the update over the coming months.
To build awareness around the updated features, Samsung has launched a sweeping marketing campaign across major London landmarks and transport hubs. The privacy-focused campaign includes visibility at the iconic Piccadilly Lights and in high-traffic underground and train stations. The message is simple: users have the tools to protect their devices, and now is the time to use them.
Samsung is also pushing the message across social platforms, video channels, and through the Samsung Members app, ensuring the alert reaches users through multiple touchpoints.
