Google has announced a range of new and upcoming scam and privacy protections for Android users, including an opt-in setting in its Messages app that uses Gemini AI to warn people about deceptive messages. When turned on, the setting enables Scam Detection, which uses Google's most advanced Gemini models to evaluate the sender's intent and alert the recipient if a message may come from a bad actor. In Google's example, a sender pretended to share a photo of their dog, then engaged the recipient by asking for their name after being told they had the wrong number.
Google says Android analyzes these messages in Private AI Compute, which encrypts them and processes them in a secure space that no one else can access, including Google. Gemini Nano will also scan links in Messages on the device to check whether they are safe before you tap them. The feature will be available on Google Pixel 10 and later, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Fold 8, and other select devices. Google has also redesigned its scam warnings to provide more context and extra time before you tap links sent from numbers that are not in your contacts.
Scam Detection is expanding beyond Pixel devices and will warn users about potential scams directly within message notifications, so they don't need to open the message. Google has partnered with Honor, Motorola, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, vivo and Xiaomi, which are expected to enable the feature later this year. Separately, devices running Android 15 and newer will get automatic screen-sharing privacy later this month, hiding passwords, banking information and credit card security numbers by default when Chrome or Android WebView is open.
In early December, Google will roll out call forwarding protection on Pixel and other select devices. The feature will block apps from secretly enabling call forwarding in the background and will warn users if a scammer tries to trick them into entering an MMI forwarding code. Google has also worked with banks in Brazil to combat bank impersonation by verifying incoming calls. If a caller fails the check, Android will hang up and alert the user. Google said the feature has already blocked more than three million fake calls since its June launch. It is not yet clear whether the tool will come to the United States, though Google says it will work with more partner banks in the future.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing