This year, Google’s emphasis on Android security and safety has been rather obvious. Android 15 has been a very comforting version, with features like private zones and partial screen recording as well as defense against juice jacking attacks.
With a few new features that address the problem of fraudulent calls and malicious apps, Google is now injecting more effort into that mission. These capabilities will eventually be available on other Android phones after initially debuting on Pixel smartphones.
Google Play Protect live threat detection comes first, providing real-time notifications for potentially dangerous apps. According to Google, “Play Protect examines behavioral indicators associated with the use of sensitive permissions and interactions with other apps and services.”
With the most recent update, the system can now notify users as soon as it notices that an app is acting strangely. Before a malicious program package causes more harm, this alert will assist users in taking the appropriate action, such as removing it or rescinding access.
Android’s Private Compute Core, a secure processing environment that encourages on-device analysis, is the foundation of the entire risk assessment procedure. Activity-based real-time notifications will first target apps that engage in stalker behavior before shortly extending to additional dangerous app categories.
Next, we have improved phone scam detection. Once more, this is an on-device solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect indications of questionable activity, such a code transfer or a scammer requesting money.
According to Google, “Scam Detection will process the call to determine whether the call is likely spam if a caller identifies themselves as from your bank and requests that you transfer money immediately because of an alleged account breach.” As part of a phase testing program, customers in the United States can now access this service.
In an effort to stop fraudulent and parcel delivery scams, Google unveiled improved scam detection for the Messages app less than a month ago. The ability to detect call scams is an opt-in function.
By default, it will be set as “off,” and the AI won’t be able to function until users enable it. The Gemini Nano variant of AI in question is operating locally on Pixel 9 series smartphones. It will, however, be extended to the Pixel 6 series and all later generations.
