Wireless Android Auto support is becoming increasingly common in new cars, but Google's excellent Android Automotive infotainment system is still relatively new. Offering access to familiar built-in apps such as Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant, Android Automotive is one of the most advanced intuitive infotainment systems in the business, but it's currently limited to the Polestar 2 and various Volvos.

Google is working with other automakers to make Android Automotive more widely available in other models such as the upcoming GMC Hummer EV. While Android Automotive offers more advanced functionality than Android Auto, it does have one disadvantage.

When using Android Auto, your sensitive data is not stored in your car since the phone's interface is being projected onto the car's infotainment display. With Android Automotive, you can create in-car profiles using existing Google accounts. This is obviously convenient, but it means a thief could potentially gain access to your personal data if they steal your car. Thankfully, Google is aware of this potential security problem and is working on a solution.

According to 9to5Google the Find My Device service can be used to remotely lock profiles or delete data from their stolen vehicle, just as it can be used to wipe data from a stolen phone.

To use this handy feature, you will need to set up a "profile" for your car, which can be secured with a password. Google's Find My Device service can then be used to lock the car's profile remotely and require a password to be unlocked. Even if the vehicle is offline, the profile will be locked when the engine is next started up.

Users can also remotely delete their private data to make it inaccessible to thieves, removing all data and custom profile settings from the car's infotainment system. For now, these car security features are only available in internal test builds of Find My Device, but it hopefully won't be long until they are publicly available.