Android Automotive is reportedly getting an app lock feature to increase privacy for the in-car operating system. Like Android, Android Automotive allows users to lock their profile so that prying eyes and nosy passengers aren’t digging through all of your stuff. However, this can easily be bypassed if you unlock your profile to allow someone access to something specific. For instance, let’s say you have the passenger be the navigator (a common role for the person riding in the front passenger seat), and you ask them to punch in details for navigation directions.
Once the profile is unlocked, they have access to all other apps . If you’re worried about privacy, then this poses a slight problem. Google looks to be rectifying that, though.
Android Automotive’s new app lock feature will require a PIN to unlock apps
While keeping your profile locked is one way to keep prying eyes from digging through all of your apps, it’s not exactly a pragmatic solution if you want them to access certain things. The only problem is that right now, it’s an all-or-nothing scenario.
However, Google is currently working on bringing the per-app lock to the platform. As reported by Android Authority , Google’s recent update to documentation on Android Automotive’s unbundled apps details the new per-app security. Once rolled out, users will be able to lock specific apps behind a PIN. Anyone wanting to access those apps will need to input that PIN to use them. Just like unlocking an Android device or unlocking the Android Automotive profile. The PIN will also accept up to 16 digits, with a minimum of 4 being required to set the PIN.
The documentation doesn’t state when the feature is being pushedout to users. There’s a high chance that it hasn’t been released yet, though. It isn’t a native OS feature; it’s being released as an unbundled app, and that means car manufacturers will have to make sure it’s working in their vehicles.
Image Credit: Mishaal Rahman/Android Authority
