Google is rolling out a comprehensive security update for Android this month that’s designed to actively protect users from phone scams, phishing attacks, and other fraud attempts.
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Scam Detection for Pixel phones
The first security feature worth knowing about it called Scam Detection and is currently only available on Pixel 6 devices or later with an active SIM card. Based on the Gemini Nano AI model, Scam Detection notifies you of potential scam calls as they happen.
When a phone call comes in, Scam Detection analyzes it to detect certain patterns of typical scams. For example, if the caller claims to be a bank employee requesting an urgent bank transfer, or someone who demands sensitive data under time pressure. If suspicious behavior is flagged, the phone will automatically warn you with a message.
The entire analysis takes place locally on your device and happens in real time. Audio data isn’t transferred to or processed in the cloud, so data protection is guaranteed.
Scam protection in Google Messages
Google Messages has been able to detect and warn you about potential scams for several months now, but it’s getting even better with some new additional features and improvements.
According to a Google community post, Google Messages will warn you with a “link blocked” message when you tap on a suspicious link that leads to a potentially harmful website. You can override the warning by marking it as “not spam.” This feature is available globally.
There’s also a new Key Verifier tool in Google Messages that you can use to verify whether the person you’re chatting with is actually who they claim to be. The feature works by having you scan a QR code on your contact’s phone to mark them as a trusted contact.
Group chat warnings in Google Messages
Have you ever been invited to a random group chat by an unknown number? Google Messages will now warn you with key details about the group, plus tips on how to stay safe. If you don’t want to stay in the group, you can easily report as spam, block the number, and leave.
Check text and links with Circle to Search
You can also start using the Circle to Search feature to analyze whether certain bits of text and/or links are malicious. All you do is long-press the Home button on your Android device to launch Circle to Search, then circle the suspicious text/link. Google will then use its AI to check and warn you if the text/link could be dangerous. This feature is also available in Lens and the Google app.
See why someone is calling you
Google is also introducing a new “Call Reason” feature where a caller can state why they’re calling. As the recipient, you’ll then be able to see the reason before you pick up the phone. This makes it easier to categorize unknown, suspicious, or out-of-context calls. Call Reason is coming to the Phone by Google app this month.
All of these features are small on their own, but combined they add up to serious improvements that’ll hopefully keep you from falling victim to scams. Google is going further than many conventional protections (like static blacklists) with dynamic analyses and real-time blocks, though industry experts consider the innovation to be long overdue.