With the emergence of AI, bad actors have become creative at scamming users. To counter this, Google is deploying a massive upgrade to Android's native security suite. From messages to live calls, this update ensures users remain safe.
Smarter Detection in Google Messages
A new post on Google's Blog details a handful of new features, including an opt-in Enhanced Protection mode for Google Messages. The feature uses Android's Private AI Compute to evaluate messages from unknown numbers and warn users.
These messages run through Google's cloud Gemini models, which also evaluate hyperlinks. Additionally, the on-device Gemini Nano works alongside web telemetry to warn users about newly registered domains before they tap.
Additionally, the notification shade scam alerts that were previously exclusive to Pixel hardware are expanding to third-party Android manufacturers later this year.
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Cracking Down on Call and Screen Hijacking
Beyond text messages, Android is deploying system-level countermeasures to take care of intrusive phone and social engineering scams. These include:
- Screen-Share Privacy: Android's automatic redaction is now on Chrome and WebView. It blanks out login credentials and payment cards during live broadcasts.
- Call-Forwarding Locks: The system stops background apps from redirecting voice lines and warns users before MMI forwarding codes can execute.
- Real-time Bank Authentication: Google is partnering with financial organisations like Revolut, Banco do Brasil and Itaú Unibanco.
Android will now cross-reference incoming calls against official banking servers, automatically dropping spoofed calls before they connect.
Additionally, Google says that it commissioned an evaluation via Leviathan Security Group to analyse scam defences across Android and iOS. It found out that Android outperformed iOS in various factors. While the Pixel 11 Pro scored a provisional 29 points, the iPhone 18 Pro trailed with a 17.75 score.
Google also partnered with YouGov and claims that iPhone users were 87% more likely to fall victim to a messaging scam than Pixel users. That extends to 83% in phone calls, and twice the likelihood of their phones helping them evade mobile scams.
In the last decade, Google has introduced a host of features to prevent scams, including Advanced Protection, Scam Detection, Caller ID & Spam Filtering, Screen-Share privacy and more. The latest update suggests they're far from done.
Google says the new scam detection in messages is now available on Pixel 6 and above, S24 series and above, and Z Flip and Fold 6 series and above, alongside other AICore-supported phones. The scam detection notification will be available on phones of all major manufacturers.
The Automatic Screen-Share privacy feature will roll out to all Android 15+ smartphones, whereas the Proactive call-forwarding will be available starting December 2026 on Google Pixel and other smartphones. More information about the rollout of these feature should surface as we inch closer to the end of the year, so stay tuned.
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