Google Deploys AI-Powered Defenses to Combat Online Scams Across Chrome and Android

Google rolls out AI tools to protect Chrome users against scams | TechCrunch

Google announced on Thursday that it's rolling out new AI-powered defenses to help combat scams on Chrome. The tech giant is going to start using Gemini Nano, its on-device large language model (LLM), on desktop to protect users against online scams. It's also launching new AI-powered warnings for Chrome on Android to help users be aware of spammy notifications. Google notes that Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing on Chrome offers the highest level of protection, offering users twice the protection against phishing and other online threats compared to the browser's Standard Protection mode. Now, Google will use Gemini Nano to provide Enhanced Protection users with an additional layer of defense against online scams. Google says this on-device approach will provide immediate insight into risky websites to protect users against scams, including those that haven't been seen before. "Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly," Google said in a blog post." The company is already using this AI-powered defense to protect users from remote tech support claims. Google plans to expand this defense to Android devices and even more types of scams in the future. As for the new AI-powered warnings, Google notes that the risk from scammy sites can extend beyond the site itself through notifications if you have them enabled. Malicious websites can use notifications to try to scam you, which is why Chrome will now help you be aware of malicious, spammy, or misleading notifications on Android. Now, when Chrome's on-device machine learning model flags a notification as possibly being a scam, you will receive a warning. You can choose to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked. If you think the warning was shown incorrectly, you can allow all future notifications from that site. As part of today's announcement, Google shared that it has been using AI to stop scams in Search by detecting and blocking hundreds of millions of scammy results every day. Its AI-powered scam detection systems have helped to catch 20 times the number of scammy pages, Google says. For example, Google has seen an increase in bad actors impersonating airline customer service agents and scamming people looking for help. The company says it has reduced these scams by more than 80%, decreasing the risk of users coming across a scammy phone number on Search.

Google Launches New AI-Powered Scam Detection Features

Google just announced a few new ways it plans to detect scams using artificial intelligence for Chrome, Google Search and Android users. Google is using Gemini Nano, its on-device large language model, to provide insight on risky websites so the tech giant is aware of more scams and can offer better protection against them. Google is already using Gemini Nano to protect users against remote tech support scams, and hopes to extend the support to Android in the future. Google also has a new feature that will detect spam disguised as website notifications, and is launching AI-powered warning alerts for scam notifications for Chrome on Android. Google will give you the option to unsubscribe from the notification, or see the content that was blocked. If you find that the warning was an error, you can allow future notifications from that site. Lastly, Google announced its AI-powered Scam Detection in Google Messages and Phone by Google to protect Android users from receiving scam phone calls and text messages. The scam detection feature will give a warning that the phone call or message is likely a scam, but you'll have the option to allow future messages if Google's notification is an error.

How Google's AI combats new scam tactics - and how you can stay one step ahead

Scammers are always looking to exploit the tools and technologies we use to steal our personal information, money, or both. That's why companies like Google must defend us from hackers, security threats, and other hazards. It is also why we must take responsibility for our own security. In a blog post published Thursday, Google explains how it thwarts online scams across key products and how we can protect ourselves. With the largest share of the search engine market, Google uses AI to detect hundreds of millions of malicious and suspicious search results each day. With the help of AI, the company said its scam detection system has been able to catch 20 times more scammy pages than before. Specifically, the latest advancements in AI help Google analyze more text on the web, identify scam campaigns, and detect emerging threats to its search page. Also: Multimodal AI poses new safety risks, creates CSEM and weapons info As one example cited in the blog post, Google has seen a significant increase in attackers impersonating airline customer service providers. With this scam prevalent, travelers who search Google for airline customer service may be taken to a malicious phone number where the scammer tries to capture their personal information. Thanks to AI, the company has been able to reduce the number of such scams by more than 80%. Chrome is another Google product that offers enhanced security protection. Its Enhanced Protection mode in Safe Browsing is its highest level of defense, offering tighter security than Standard Protection mode. Now, AI makes that security even stronger. Gemini Nano, Google's on-device large language model (LLM) on the desktop, serves up instant analysis on risky and scammy websites, protecting users against new scams not seen before. As one example, Gemini Nano is helping to thwart remote tech support scams, one of the largest online threats. As the next step, Google wants to extend this protection to Android devices. Also: Why Google seems to be losing its iron grip on search - and what I use now instead Another way scammers try to pull off an attack is by sending you a host of notifications from malicious websites. To address that threat, Google is kicking off new AI-powered warnings in Chrome for Android. If the AI detects a scammy notification, the content is blocked, and you'll receive an alert with an option to unsubscribe, view the blocked content, or allow future notifications from that site if you think the warning was a false positive. Many scams also reach you through phone calls and text messages. Though the calls and texts may seem innocent at first, they can easily devolve into malicious attacks. Here, Google recently rolled out AI-powered scam detection in its messaging and phone apps to protect Android users from these scams. In its blog post, Google shared further details on how AI and machine learning help it battle scams and scammers. Google's defensive tools use machine learning algorithms to look for patterns, anomalies, and linguistic signs that indicate fraudulent activity. But scammers are a moving target as they constantly switch tactics. That means tech giants like Google must constantly keep up with them. With that goal in mind, the company has launched AI-powered versions of its anti-scam systems over the past three years. Also: How to delete your personal info from Google Search - quickly and easily The latest scam fighters use AI to analyze huge volumes of text and zero in on subtle patterns that could indicate coordinated scam campaigns or emerging threats. As one example, these systems are able to recognize interconnected networks of fraudulent websites that may individually appear legitimate. The use of AI and LLMs has also helped Google track scams across different countries and languages. For instance, let's say the company finds a scam in English, Hindi, German, Spanish, or another language. In response, the LLMs allow its systems to locate those scams in other languages, thus protecting more people around the world. Though companies like Google may take the necessary steps to protect us from scams and other threats, we must assume responsibility ourselves. Toward that end, the company offers a few tips to keep in mind. Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.

Google's Chrome Browser Taps On-Device AI to Catch Tech Support Scams

A new version of Chrome coming this month will use Gemini Nano AI to help the browser stop scams that usually appear as annoying pop-ups. Google is adding a dose of AI to the Chrome browser to protect users from tech support scams. In a blog post, Google says a new version of Chrome arriving for desktops this month will tap "on-device" AI to flag and detect the scams in real-time. These schemes often appear through pop-ups that mimic security alerts to trick the user into thinking their computer has been infected with a virus. Sometimes, they display a phone number to call for help, but it's all a scheme to dupe victims into paying for fake tech support. Although these scams have been around for years, the scammers behind them are constantly adapting their tactics to prey on more users. This can include making the pop-ups automatically expand to full-screen and disabling the mouse input to create a "sense of crisis," Google noted. Others have encountered pop-ups that play alarming audio messages, claiming the computer has been locked down. In reality, no infection has occurred; the pop-ups are merely abusing browser functions. To fight back, Google is using Gemini Nano, a large language model that initially appeared on Pixel phones, to detect tech support scams on the browser. Gemini Nano is small enough to run on the device itself, enabling it to flag threats in real-time. "We've found that the average malicious site exists for less than 10 minutes, so on-device protection allows us to detect and block attacks that haven't been crawled [by Google's search engine] before," the company says in the blog post. The Gemini Nano model will activate when Chrome navigates to a potentially malicious web page. Because tech support scams trigger certain browser processes, the Gemini Nano model can analyze the suspected malicious web page, including its intent. The data is then sent to Google's Safe Browsing online service for a "final verdict," which will determine if Chrome should serve a warning telling the user about the potential threat. The approach might raise concerns about Gemini Nano draining resources or invading users' privacy. But Google says it's come up with guardrails to address such concerns. "In addition to ensuring that the LLM is only triggered sparingly and run locally on the device, we carefully manage resource consumption by considering the number of tokens used, running the process asynchronously to avoid interrupting browser activity, and implementing throttling and quota enforcement mechanisms to limit GPU usage," the company explains. It also looks like users can opt-out. Google says the LLM-summarized security signals are only sent to its Safe Browsing service "for users who have opted-in to the Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing in Chrome, giving them protection against threats Google may not have seen before." Meanwhile, users who've gone into Chrome's settings and picked the normal or no protection mode won't have any large language model data sent to Google. But the company still notes: "Standard Protection users will also benefit indirectly from this feature as we add newly discovered dangerous sites to blocklists." Google's security implementation of Gemini Nano arrives in Chrome version 137 later this month. It comes shortly after Microsoft introduced a similar AI-powered capability for its Edge browser to detect and block "scareware" pop-ups.

Google Rolls Out On-Device AI Protections to Detect Scams in Chrome and Android

Google on Thursday announced it's rolling out new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered countermeasures to combat scams across Chrome, Search, and Android. The tech giant said it will begin using Gemini Nano, its on-device large language model (LLM), to improve Safe Browsing in Chrome 137 on desktops. "The on-device approach provides instant insight on risky websites and allows us to offer protection, even against scams that haven't been seen before. Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly," the company said. Google noted that it's already using this AI-driven approach to tackle remote tech support scams, which often seek to trick users into parting with their personal or financial information under the pretext of a non-existent computer problem. This works by evaluating the web pages using the LLM for potential signals that are emblematic of tech support scams, such as the use of the keyboard lock API. The security signals are then extracted and passed to Safe Browsing to determine if the page is likely a scam. "In addition to ensuring that the LLM is only triggered sparingly and run locally on the device, we carefully manage resource consumption by considering the number of tokens used, running the process asynchronously to avoid interrupting browser activity, and implementing throttling and quota enforcement mechanisms to limit GPU usage," Jasika Bawa, Andy Lim, and Xinghui Lu of the Google Chrome Security team said. Google said it intends to expand this feature to detect other kinds of scams, including those related to package tracking and unpaid tolls. The feature is also expected to be rolled out to Chrome on Android later this year. As part of the announcement, Google also revealed that it has enhanced its AI-powered scam detection systems to ensnare 20 times more deceptive pages and block such pages from search results, reducing schemes that impersonate airline customer service providers by over 80% and those that mimic official resources like visas and government services by over 70% in 2024. Lastly, Google said it's launching a new warnings feature for Chrome on Android that uses an on-device machine learning model to alert users of unwanted notifications sent by malicious sites that aim to trick them into downloading suspicious software or providing sensitive data. "This new feature uses on-device machine learning to detect and warn you about potentially deceptive or spammy notifications, giving you an extra level of control over the information displayed on your device," Chrome Security's Hannah Buonomo and Sarah Krakowiak Criel said. "When a notification is flagged by Chrome, you'll see the name of the site sending the notification, a message warning that the contents of the notification are potentially deceptive or spammy, and the option to either unsubscribe from the site or see the flagged content." The features come a little over two months after Google rolled out AI-powered scam detection features in the Messages app for Android. Last year, the company unveiled similar ways to flag scam calls. The updates also arrive as Google appears to be readying an Advanced Protection feature in Android 16 that, in some ways, mirrors Apple's approach by turning off JavaScript, disabling 2G connections, and activating a number of security features by default, such as Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, Android Safe Browsing, spam protection in Messages. Google has also been spotted working on a feature to detect scams that coax victims into opening their banking apps during phone calls, Android Authority reported earlier this week.

Google Chrome to use on-device AI to detect tech support scams

Google is implementing a new Chrome security feature that uses the built-in 'Gemini Nano' large-language model (LLM) to detect and block tech support scams while browsing the web. Tech support scams are malicious websites that trick users into thinking their computer has a virus infection or other problem. These alerts are shown as full-screen browser windows or will display additional pop-ups, making them difficult to close. The goal is to convince the victim to call a listed number for help to either sell unnecessary remote support subscriptions or gain remote access to devices, which can lead to financial losses or data theft. Google Chrome 126 to power AI features directly within the browser for faster, privacy-focused assistance. Chrome's new anti-scam system, which is integrated into the browser's 'Enhanced Protection,' analyzes web pages in real time to detect scam signals like fake virus alerts or full-screen lockouts, which are hallmarks of tech support scams. This analysis takes place offline, locally on the user's device using Gemini Nano. When there's a positive match, the data (LLM output + site metadata) is sent to 'Google Safe Browsing' for a more thorough evaluation. If malicious intent is confirmed, Chrome will display a warning message informing the user of the risk. Google says the feature respects users' privacy and has only a minimal performance impact, though not many details were given in the announcement. "This is all done in a way that preserves performance and privacy," announced Google. "In addition to ensuring that the LLM is only triggered sparingly and run locally on the device, we carefully manage resource consumption by considering the number of tokens used, running the process asynchronously to avoid interrupting browser activity, and implementing throttling and quota enforcement mechanisms to limit GPU usage." The AI-powered protection feature will be implemented on Chrome 137, scheduled for release next week, and it will be enabled by default on all users who upgrade to the latest version and opt into 'Enhanced Protection' within the browser's Safe Browsing settings. Open Chrome Settings > Privacy and Security > Security > Enhanced Protection to enable it. Google stated it plans to expand the system in future releases and make it capable of detecting other scam types, such as fake package delivery or toll notices. Also, Chrome for Android will get this feature sometime in 2025. Google's new anti-scam feature is similar to what Microsoft introduced for Edge earlier this year, which uses a specially trained machine learning model to detect and block scams targeting the user.

Chrome will now use Gemini Nano to catch scams

Google says the model will allow it to catch scams it hasn't seen before. Google just announced an upgrade to Chrome's Enhanced Protection feature. On desktop, the browser now uses Gemini Nano to protect users against remote tech support scams. According to Google, the on-device large language model allows Chrome to protect people against scams the company hasn't seen before. "[Gemini Nano] is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly," Google says, adding it hopes to this bring the feature to Android devices soon. The company plans to use this same AI approach against a greater variety of scams in the future as well. In the meantime, Android users can look forward to stronger protection against scams that use Chrome notifications as an attack vector. Google is once again turning to machine learning to offer this feature. "When Chrome's on-device machine learning model flags a notification, you'll receive a warning with the option to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked," Google explains. "And if you decide the warning was shown incorrectly, you can choose to allow future notifications from that website." Fighting scams was a major focus for Google last year. In May, for instance, the company previewed a system for delivering real-time scam alerts during phone calls. More recently, the company introduced a suite of safety features for Messages. As a result of its efforts, Google says it's preventing hundreds of millions of scam-related results from reaching its users.

Google adds on-device AI to Chrome to catch scams in real time

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? While AI startups continue promoting the technology as transformative, Google has turned to its language models to improve the online environment. Mountain View recently unveiled several AI-based tools designed to combat potential scams. Google now deploys its latest artificial intelligence advancements to detect and combat online scams more effectively. By integrating large language models into platforms like Search, Chrome, and Android, the company reports significantly better results in blocking malicious actors who try to steal money, personal information, or both. Language models help Google detect and block millions of dangerous results daily. The company adapted machine learning algorithms to identify patterns, anomalies, and linguistic cues that may signal fraudulent activity. As scammers' tactics evolve, the search giant aims to stay one step ahead with a proactive approach to emerging threats. Google claims that the AI-powered detection system helped it discover 20 times more scam pages than before. The modified models analyze vast amounts of text on the web and have contributed to identifying a rise in criminal campaigns impersonating airline customer services. This type of scam has already decreased by more than 80 percent. Google now uses its Gemini Nano LLM to enhance security in Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode. This on-device, desktop-only model provides instant insights into potentially dangerous websites, helping prevent scams that are still undetected. By leveraging Nano's ability to distill the complex nature of websites, Google can quickly adapt to new scam techniques. Mountain View also employs AI to protect mobile users from unwanted Chrome notifications on Android. When Chrome flags a notification as potentially dangerous, its on-device LLM warns users and offers the option to unsubscribe from the content. Earlier this year, Google introduced another AI-powered feature to detect scammers attempting to call users via Android's phone functionality. With its new AI-powered solutions, Google strives to make scammers' jobs as difficult as possible. However, the company recently faced a monopoly label in the online search market and now awaits a potentially explosive mandate. Authorities are eager to break the business into separate entities, but Google maintains that its market dominance is crucial for delivering users the latest and most innovative tech solutions.

Chrome for Android will soon warn you against scam notifications

This feature uses AI to warn you if a website notification is malicious, spammy, or misleading. You may not notice it, but Google's browser is fitted with all kinds of security and privacy features to protect you while you jump from website to website. Some examples include Safety Check, Enhanced Protection Mode, Password Manager, and so on. Now the company is rolling out a new security feature on Chrome for Android. When you use Chrome, some websites will ask if you're interested in enabling notifications. This allows web apps to act more like native apps on your device. Website notifications can be helpful if you want to be alerted to something, like a newly published story. However, sketchy websites can also misuse this functionality to send you malicious, spammy, or misleading notifications. If you're someone who likes to use website notifications, you'll soon have a way to protect yourself from these malicious alerts. Google has announced it is rolling out a Gemini Nano-powered tool to fight against unwanted notifications on Android. This tool will use Chrome's on-device machine learning model to detect iffy notifications. If the alert is deemed suspicious, the tool will send you a warning. This warning will give you the option to either unsubscribe or view the blocked content. You'll also have the option to allow future notifications from that website if the alert was flagged by mistake. In addition to web notification warnings, Google announced it plans to expand Enhanced Protection Mode to Android devices. This mode is also being improved to weed out more types of scams other than phishing.

Google's AI now stops more scammers across Chrome, Search, and Android

Google wants to save you from accidentally screen-sharing your bank info Summary Google is intensifying its fight against online scams across its platforms, building on its "download apps, not traps" campaign by highlighting existing and new AI-powered defenses for Search, Chrome, and Android. AI advancements are significantly bolstering Google's ability to detect and block scams in Search, including a major reduction in airline customer service impersonation scams, while Chrome's Safe Browsing is being enhanced with the on-device Gemini Nano model for real-time protection against emerging threats. New AI-driven features are being introduced to combat notification spam in Chrome on Android and to provide real-time detection of call and message scams, reflecting Google's commitment to staying ahead of evolving malicious tactics. Soon after launching its new 'download apps, not traps' ad campaign in the US, which aims to raise awareness about safe app downloads on the Play Store, Google is now reiterating the existing steps it takes to ensure a safe and scam-free Search experience, all while highlighting new AI-driven measures it is taking to boost defenses across Search, Chrome, and Android in general. Related Google Play wants to make sure you 'Download apps, not traps' Google reiterates six ways Play keeps you safe Posts Tackling shopping scams The tech giant alluded that Search is a breeding ground for those attempting to scam unsuspecting users, with Google blocking "hundreds of millions of scammy results every day." The system to spot and block unsafe results uses AI in tandem with enhanced classifiers. "Advancements in AI have bolstered our scam-fighting technologies -- enabling us to analyze vast quantities of text on the web, identify coordinated scam campaigns and detect emerging threats -- staying one step ahead to keep you safe on Search," wrote the tech giant. The company shared that it has already reduced airline customer service impersonation scams by more than 80 percent on Search, among other areas, reducing the risk of unsuspecting users dialing a scammy phone number by mistake. Enhancements to Chrome's Safe Browsing with Gemini Nano Related Google Safe Browsing protects you from malware and other online threats. Here's how to set it up Turn on Safe Browsing to protect yourself online Posts Chrome's Safe Browsing feature, which runs on both smartphones and desktop PCs, was first introduced way back in 2007. The tool helps protect users from dubious websites, unsafe downloads, phishing attempts, potentially harmful browser extensions, and more. To enhance the feature's safety mechanism, Google is supercharging it with Gemini Nano on desktop, which should reportedly allow the tool to provide near-instant insight on risky websites and protection against scams that haven't been spotted in the wild before. "Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly," suggests Google. The development adds an extra layer of security on the web, paired which Google's existing real-time scam detection tech for calls and Google Messages. Related Google is going for scammers' jugulars with real-time fraud detection For messages and calls Posts 1 Combating notification scam and spam If you've enabled notifications from a reliable website in the past, and it has changed hands, scammers can send a barrage of unwanted notifications in an attempt to scam you. The tech giant said that it is introducing a new AI-powered warning for Chrome on Android that would be able to flag said notifications and alert users about the potential threat. Source: Google The warning will be accompanied by an option to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked. "If you decide the warning was shown incorrectly, you can choose to allow future notifications from that website," wrote Google. These updates came soon after Google was spotted working on a shield against screen-sharing scams where threat actors pretend to be someone from your bank. Related Google wants to save you from accidentally screen-sharing your bank info Think before you share Posts

Chrome Is Using Gemini Nano AI to Detect Scams

What is a Wi-Fi Pineapple? How to Protect Yourself From Pineapple Attacks Google is using its artificial intelligence, Gemini Nano, to fight online scams more effectively. The AI is changing how the Chrome browser, Android devices, and Google Search detects and stops fraudulent activity in real time. This new method is more advanced than older techniques, which should help protect users from new threats and keep up with scammers' constantly changing tactics. This isn't new; Google has used AI to fight online scams for years. The company's Fighting Scams in Search report claims to have stopped hundreds of millions of fake search results every day. Still, recent improvements have made the system much more powerful. This is thanks to upgrades in Google's AI-powered scam detection. According to the Chromium Blog, the company now identifies and blocks 20 times as many scam websites in Search. This means a much safer experience for millions of users, keeping them away from sites designed to steal their money or personal information. The system works especially well in certain areas. For example, Google has seen a big increase in scams where criminals pretend to be airline customer service agents or even Google agents. By using AI, Google has cut these scams by more than 80% in Search, stopping many people from falling for these tricks. Chrome now uses Gemini Nano to add another layer of protection, especially in Enhanced Protection mode. This on-device LLM works like a fast-response system, instantly checking website content for signs of malicious activity. If a user visits a suspicious site, certain triggers (like using the keyboard lock API that stops users from closing the scam window) alert Gemini Nano. The LLM then examines the webpage's content, looking for security signals that show the site's true purpose. This could include warning pop-ups or full-screen takeovers, typical in tech support scams. The information is sent to Google Safe Browsing for a final decision. If Safe Browsing confirms the threat, a warning message prevents the user from interacting with the dangerous site. This on-device approach has major benefits. Speed is critical because many scam websites only stay active for a very short time, often less than 10 minutes. Gemini Nano's instant analysis lets Google detect and block these quick-moving threats before they can do widespread harm, overcoming the limits of traditional scanning methods. Additionally, the on-device system gives a unique view by analyzing how the website appears to the actual user. This is important because scammers often design their sites to trick Google's automated scanners. They show different content to real users than to detection systems. Chrome on Android also now has AI-powered warnings for suspicious or spammy notifications. This makes sure that notifications marked as harmful are truly risky without exposing user data. When a notification is flagged, users see a clear warning, letting them unsubscribe from the site or view the potentially dangerous content. The LLM works locally on the device, keeping sensitive data secure. Resource usage is carefully managed through optimizations, including asynchronous processing to avoid interruptions and controls to limit GPU usage. The LLM only sends summarized security signals to Safe Browsing for users who have turned on Enhanced Protection, but even users with Standard Protection benefit. This is great for everyone involved because you still get the protections while you don't have to sign up. Still, the best security measures are being careful and thinking twice before clicking links, listening to callers, or downloading files. Source: Google

Chrome using Gemini Nano for 'Enhanced Protection' against scams

Google today published a report about how it's using the latest AI approaches to combat spam across Search, Chrome (with Gemini Nano for Enhanced Protection), and Android. Google Search credits AI-powered scam detection systems as currently helping detect and block "hundreds of millions of scammy results every day." The company notes how it can now "analyze vast quantities of text and identify subtle linguistic patterns and thematic connections that might indicate coordinated scam campaigns or emerging fraudulent narratives." For example, we've observed a significant increase in bad actors on the web impersonating airline customer service providers and scamming people in need of help. We've already reduced these scams by more than 80% in Search, greatly reducing the risk that you call a scammy phone number. In addition to the "Standard Protection" warnings when you come across a nefarious site, Safe Browsing offers an optional "Enhanced Protection" mode against phishing and other scams. Desktop Chrome is now using the on-device Gemini Nano model to "provide Enhanced Protection users with an additional layer of defense against online scams." The LLM "provides instant insight on risky websites and allows us to offer protection, even against scams that haven't been seen before." Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly. Google is already using this to "protect users from remote tech support scams," with plans to cover more types and bringing to the Android browser in the future. Meanwhile, Chrome for Android will use an on-device machine learning model that flags "malicious, spammy or misleading notifications" and labels them as "Possible scam." Users can "Show notification" or "Unsubscribe."

Google Using AI to Combat Scams in Chrome

Google today shared details on some of the new ways that it is incorporating artificial intelligence into its search products in order to combat online scams. In Chrome for the desktop, the Enhanced Protection mode for safer browsing now incorporates Gemini Nano, an on-device large language model. Gemini Nano is able to provide instant insight to users about websites that might be risky, even if it's a scam that hasn't been seen before. Google says that Gemini Nano is able to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, making it quicker for Google to adapt to new scam tactics. Specifically, Gemini Nano is used to protect users from remote tech support scams, but Google plans to expand it to more types of scams in the future. Google is using AI to cut down on specific scams in Chrome for Android. Google delivers AI-powered warnings for spammy or misleading notifications, prompting users to unsubscribe. This isn't a feature available on the desktop or iOS devices as of yet, but Google could expand it in the future.

Google is going to start using AI to keep you safe -- here's how

Google wants to keep pesky scammers away across its platforms Google has just released a report focused entirely on its efforts to keep scammers at bay. Called the Fighting Scams in Search report, this details how the tech giant uses AI to work against scams in a variety of ways. These techniques are seen not just in Google search but also on Chrome and in software on Google's own Pixel phones. So, what does Google do to protect you from scams? The report breaks it down into a few key areas. Google explains that AI is, and has been, used to detect and block hundreds of millions of scam results each day. The report explains that Google has put more money into this recently and made improvements to the AI classifiers, leading to a 20 times increase in the number of scammy pages caught and blocked. As AI has advanced, it has allowed Google to analyze large amounts of data on the web, identifying scam campaigns or detecting the early stages of a scam. In the report, Google gives the example of seeing an uptick in scams where airline customer service providers are impersonated, scamming people looking for help. It claims to have already reduced this issue by more than 80%. Google has introduced a feature called the enhanced protection mode. This, as Google states, is its highest level of protection. For those on desktop, Google is now also using Gemini Nano, an AI model made by Google to offer an additional layer of defence against scams online. This provides instant insights into risky websites and helps protect users from new scams. By using an AI model here, especially one as large as this, it allows Google to predict and deal with changing scams, even on more complex websites. Google Chrome on your Android device lets you set up notifications from websites. However, while these can sometimes be useful and from sites you enjoy, scam-like notifications can also sneak through. Google has added an AI-powered warning system here. When the AI model flags a dodgy notification, you'll receive a warning with the option to unsubscribe or view the content. You can decide if the warning is unnecessary and keep getting notifications, or remove them completely. The final point that Google lists in its scam assessment is on its Google Pixel devices. Scams have always been common via calls and texts. These seem normal at first, but quickly turn into scams. A new feature on these smartphones, called Scam Detection, protects users from these issues. Google is slightly vague on how this feature works, but it seems like an evolution on its existing scam features. Through this, Google will identify what it thinks is a scam call, giving you a notification on screen when texting or on the phone with a potential scam. By applying AI to this, Google can start to learn more appropriately when you are potentially being scammed.

Chrome has a new AI-powered 'enhanced protection' mode to protect you from scams - here's how it works

Google claims it's already seeing positive results from the change If there's one thing you learn while browsing the internet, it's that scams are everywhere. Even the most eagle-eyed experts can fall victim, with untold sums of money being lost to these nefarious schemes every year. That doesn't mean the situation is hopeless, though, and Google is now taking the fight to scammers with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). According to a recent blog post from the company, there are three areas where Google is using AI against scams: Chrome, Google Search, and Android. In Chrome, Google is deploying its Gemini Nano on-device large language model (LLM) to provide an Enhanced Protection mode to users. Google says this "keeps users twice as safe from phishing and other scams versus our Standard Protection mode." The AI does this by distilling its knowledge of scams in order to analyze suspicious websites and alert users to threats, even if the dangers are new and haven't been seen before. As for Search, Google says AI "helps us detect and block hundreds of millions of scammy results every day," with 20 times as many fraudulent pages being caught than before Google enlisted the help of AI. Google claims this approach has reduced airline-related scams appearing in Search by up to 80%, for example. While many of these improvements are cross-platform changes that will be seen on different devices, there are also some Android-exclusive tweaks that are putting AI to good use against scams. One example is website notifications on Android phones. If you've allowed a scam website to send you notifications (without realizing it is a scam), you could be barraged by fraudulent alerts that try to steal your data. In cases like that, Google has just launched AI-powered warnings specifically for Chrome on Android. When a suspicious notification is detected, Chrome on Android will warn you that the alert might be a scam. You can then turn off notifications from the website in question, or view the alert itself, at which point you will again be able to unsubscribe or always allow the alerts if you don't think they are nefarious. There are also improvements coming to Google Messages and Phone by Google. These detect ongoing scams that start out innocently, but quickly evolve into dangerous situations, which might be hard for traditional scam-protection methods to spot. Whatever device you use, it looks like you could benefit from Google's recent rollout of AI to fight against scams. With bad actors constantly improving their tactics, AI's ability to quickly analyze huge reams of data could spare you from the fraudsters.

Google Chrome is getting an AI-powered scam sniffer for Android phones

Table of Contents Table of Contents How will it protect you? Why does it matter? Google's Chrome browser has offered a rich suite of privacy and safety features for a while now. Take, for example, Enhanced Safe Browsing, which was introduced back in 2020. It protects users against unsafe websites and files by using real-time threat detection. Three years later, Google switched it from an opt-in mode to a default safety protocol to guard users against phishing attacks, bad extensions, and malicious downloads. Now, the company is deploying its Gemini Nano AI to safeguard smartphone users against potential online scams, especially those hiding as a tech security warning on webpages. Recommended Videos How will it protect you? Bad websites that show users a fake security warning often employ a recognizable pattern of tactics. Gemini Nano has been trained to identify these tricks to deceive users. As soon as a website exhibits risky behavior, the AI will identify the real intent behind the warning and share it with the Safe Browsing system. If the webpage is flagged as potentially risky and shows signs of a digital scam, the web browser will send a notification alert to users. Down the road, Google hopes to leverage this system for tackling package tracking and toll scams, too. Such notifications will show the website's name, alongside a warning message about its spammy nature. Aside from unsubscribing with a single tap, users can also choose to whitelist it if the new security feature in Chrome misfires. Users can choose to unsubscribe directly from the notification banner or choose to view the blocked web content. This feature will first land on Android smartphones later this year, though the company hasn't detailed any hardware or software requirements for implementing it. "To start, this feature is only available on Android as the majority of notifications are sent to mobile devices," says the company. Google, however, adds that it will explore whether Chrome's new AI-powered security guardrails can also be extended to other platforms. Why does it matter? Tech support scams, where a website shows an alert message and warns users that their device is infected with a virus, are rampant these days. Google says these sham websites often render in varied ways for users, which makes it necessary to assess the threat just the way users see them. This is where AI comes into the picture. So far, Google has relied on a system that performs real-time matching for blocklisted content, and a small sample of browsing data is also shared for security purposes. But with Gemini Nano coming into the picture, the security scan happens on-device, bringing a crucial advantage. "We've found that the average malicious site exists for less than 10 minutes, so on-device protection allows us to detect and block attacks that haven't been crawled before," Google says in a security update. The on-device approach, argues the company, allows it to analyze the threats just the way they are pushed before an average smartphone user.

How we're using AI to combat the latest scams

For more than a decade Google has used advancements in AI to protect you from online scams where malicious actors deceive users to gain access to money, personal information, or both. Today, we're releasing a new report on how we fight scams in Search, and sharing the new ways we're using AI to keep you safe across Search, Chrome and Android In Search, AI helps us detect and block hundreds of millions of scammy results every day. Our Fighting Scams in Search report showcases how the investments we've made in our AI-powered scam detection systems -- along with improvements to our classifiers -- have enabled us to catch 20-times the number of scammy pages. These improvements help ensure the results you get are legitimate, and protect you from harmful sites trying to steal your sensitive data. Advancements in AI have bolstered our scam-fighting technologies -- enabling us to analyze vast quantities of text on the web, identify coordinated scam campaigns and detect emerging threats -- staying one step ahead to keep you safe on Search. For example, we've observed a significant increase in bad actors on the web impersonating airline customer service providers and scamming people in need of help. We've already reduced these scams by more than 80% in Search, greatly reducing the risk that you call a scammy phone number. The Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing on Chrome is our browser's highest level of protection, and keeps users twice as safe from phishing and other scams versus our Standard Protection mode. We're now using Gemini Nano, our on-device large language model (LLM) on desktop, to provide Enhanced Protection users with an additional layer of defense against online scams. The on-device approach provides instant insight on risky websites and allows us to offer protection, even against scams that haven't been seen before. Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly. We're already using this new AI-powered approach to protect users from remote tech support scams, one of the biggest online threats facing users today. Our goal is to expand this protection to Android devices and even more types of scams in the future. Sometimes the risk from scammy sites can extend beyond the site itself. If you've enabled notifications from websites, malicious sites can try to scam you through a barrage of notifications. To help you stay ahead of malicious, spammy or misleading notifications, we're launching new AI-powered warnings for Chrome on Android. When Chrome's on-device machine learning model flags a notification, you'll receive a warning with the option to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked. And if you decide the warning was shown incorrectly, you can choose to allow future notifications from that website.

Chrome Unleashes AI to Block Scam Notifications Before They Trick You - Decrypt

This automatic protection feature adds to Chrome's existing security measures against notification abuse, and may expand to other platforms beyond Android in the future. Chrome is rolling out a defense system that catches scammy notifications before they can do harm. The browser's latest update for Android devices now uses on-device machine learning to identify and flag suspicious notifications that might be trying to trick you into downloading sketchy software, or handing over personal information. Google confirmed Thursday that its new notification warning system is active, giving Android users an extra layer of security against an increasingly common form of mobile scam. "When a notification is flagged by Chrome, you'll see the name of the site sending the notification, a message warning that the contents of the notification are potentially deceptive or spammy, and the option to either unsubscribe from the site or see the flagged content," the Chromium team said in a blog post announcing the feature. Notification-based scams have become the digital equivalent of those annoying pop-up windows that plagued earlier versions of the internet -- except now, they're harder to spot. These new pests can even follow you even after you've left a website, which is why AI on your device works better than server-based AI, per Google's assessment. "Leveraging LLMs on-device allows us to see threats when users see them. We've found that the average malicious site exists for less than 10 minutes, so on-device protection allows us to detect and block attacks that haven't been crawled before." Google said in a separate blog post. "The on-device approach also empowers us to see threats the way users see them." Rather than sending your notification data to Google's servers for analysis, Chrome leverages Gemini Nano's multimodal capabilities to differentiate good from bad notifications. The machine learning model examines the text in each notification -- including its title, body content, and any action buttons -- then makes a determination about whether it looks fishy. This also means that Google does not have access to your notifications, because they remain encrypted and never leave your phone. Google claims it took extra precautions with the training data, using synthetic information generated by its Gemini large language model instead of actual user notifications. The company then validated this training data against real notifications that its security team gathered and had human experts classify. The system adds to Chrome's growing arsenal against notification abuse. The browser already revokes notification permissions from sites that Google Safe Browsing identifies as abusive, and offers one-tap unsubscribe for any notification on Android, whether it's been flagged or not. For now, the feature is Android-only since that's where most notification spam happens, but Google hinted at possible expansion: "We will evaluate expanding to other platforms in the future," the company noted. The best part about this new protection is that it's completely automatic, unlike other alternatives in which users typically have to deal with filters, exceptions, and other configurations, updating them as scams get more sophisticated. If Chrome spots something suspicious, then you'll know about it before the scammers can make their move. With notification fraud growing more sophisticated, this machine learning approach offers a smarter way to spot the tricks that static blocklists might miss. Hopefully Apple will follow suit.

Chrome Gets Gemini Nano on Desktop to Fight Scams, Warnings for...

We may earn a commission when you click links to retailers and purchase goods. More info. I'm not sure I will ever be convinced that AI is a tool I should use when planning a vacation or when in need of recommendations for an outing. I'm certainly not about to use AI to create a fake world or experience through a picture I've taken. I am an AI skeptic, because the promises of it bring back memories of the ridiculous 5G promises that were made and never kept, but in a more sinister way. That said, AI will probably be the most useful when it's out of the way, doing work behind the scenes to make our lives more efficient and safer. Today, Google shared a couple of ideas it is rolling out that use AI to make Chrome experiences safer from spam or scams. GEMINI NANO ON CHROME DESKTOP: The first to be aware of is the addition of Gemini Nano to Chrome on desktop to try and fight against online scams. Google says that an "on-device approach provides instant insight on risky websites and allows us to offer protection, even against scams that haven't been seen before." While they didn't expand on that, I'd imagine that will include big warnings to the user if a scam is detected through Gemini Nano. Google is apparently already using this to detect remote tech support scams. The goal is to expand this protection to Android devices in the future. AI PROTECTION FROM NOTIFICATIONS ON ANDROID: The other new idea is Android-related and it includes protection from notifications you've subscribed to on Chrome on Android. Google will use on-device machine learning to flag notifications that it believes are possible spam. We're talking about the pop-ups where a website asks if you want to subscribe to notifications from them (you shouldn't) and they then send those to you with new articles, sales promos, etc. Google believes it can identify if they are malicious, spammy, or misleading. The warning that pops up will block and then call out the "Possible spam" before giving you two options. You can then unsubscribe instantly or still show the notification if you believe Google has labeled it spam in error. See, AI can be useful, just not often in the ways that everyone keeps suggesting.

Google Chrome to Use AI to Stop Tech Support Scams

"We believe we can leverage LLMs to help detect scams at scale and adapt to new tactics more quickly." Google Chrome is taking an AI-driven defence approach to help users protect against tech support scams. With the release of Chrome 137 this week (as a beta version), the browser will begin using Gemini Nano, Google's on-device large language model, to detect and block scam sites in real time. Tech support scams have long relied on fear tactics such as full-screen takeovers, fake virus alerts, and even disabling input controls or giving up remote access. According to Google, these pages often change rapidly and avoid detection by evading security crawlers. "We've found that the average malicious site exists for less than 10 minutes," the company noted in its announcement. The new AI-powered feature aims to outpace scammers by analysing suspicious pages locally on the user's device. "We believe we can leverage LLMs to help detect scams at scale and adapt to new tactics more quickly. But why on-device? Leveraging LLMs on-device allows us to see threats when users see them.", the company stated in the blog post. If Chrome detects behaviour typically associated with scams, like abuse of keyboard lock APIs, it will trigger Gemini Nano to evaluate the page. "Chrome provides the LLM with the contents of the page that the user is on and queries it to extract security signals, such as the intent of the page.", mentioned the announcement. The LLM summarises signals such as intent and page content, which are then sent to Google Safe Browsing for a final verdict. If deemed harmful, Chrome will display a warning. Because the evaluation happens locally, threats can be identified as users experience them -- an approach that offers both privacy and speed. Only users who opt-in to Chrome's Enhanced Safe Browsing will send these AI-generated signals to Google, though standard users will still benefit through improved blocklists. Looking ahead, Google plans to expand this AI layer to catch other scam types, including package tracking fraud and unpaid toll schemes. Android support is expected later this year, and ongoing research is being conducted into improving resilience against prompt injection and other emerging threats.

Chrome deploys local AI to detect new emerging web scams

Google is rolling out new AI-powered defenses to help combat scams on Chrome, starting with its desktop version. The tech giant will use Gemini Nano, its on-device large language model, to protect users against online scams, including those that haven't been seen before. Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing already offers twice the protection against phishing and other online threats compared to the browser's Standard Protection mode. With Gemini Nano, Enhanced Protection users will receive an additional layer of defense. Google says this on-device approach will provide immediate insight into risky websites. "Gemini Nano's LLM is perfect for this use because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly," Google said in a blog post. The company is already using this AI-powered defense to protect users from remote tech support claims and plans to expand it to Android devices and more types of scams. Google is also launching new AI-powered warnings for Chrome on Android to help users be aware of spammy notifications. If Chrome's on-device machine learning model flags a notification as possibly being a scam, users will receive a warning and can choose to unsubscribe or view the blocked content. Google has been using AI to stop scams in Search, detecting and blocking hundreds of millions of scammy results daily. Its AI-powered scam detection systems have caught 20 times more scammy pages. For example, Google has reduced scams impersonating airline customer service agents by over 80%, decreasing the risk of users encountering scammy phone numbers on Search.

Chrome Android notification security gets Gemini AI boost - Phandroid

Chrome on Android is about to get a lot smarter -- and a bit more protective. Google is rolling out a new AI-powered feature to help users deal with sketchy website notifications, and it's part of a broader push to tighten Chrome Android notification security. You've probably seen the little pop-up asking if a website can send you notifications. Sometimes it's useful, like for breaking news alerts or app-like web features. But it's also one of the easiest ways for shady websites to blast your phone with spam, misleading links, or even malicious content. That's where this new tool comes in. Powered by Gemini Nano, Google's on-device AI model, Chrome will now analyze notifications as they come in and flag ones that seem suspicious. If it detects something off, you'll get a warning with options to unsubscribe, see what was blocked, or whitelist the site if it was flagged by mistake. The best part? This all happens on your device, so your data stays private. This Chrome Android notification security update comes alongside improvements to Enhanced Protection Mode, which is expanding to Android and will now catch more than just phishing attempts. With AI-driven safeguards and broader scam detection, Google's making mobile browsing a lot less stressful -- especially for users who rely on web notifications.

This Is How Google Is Using AI to Combat Online Scams

On Android, Chrome will show alerts for website-based notifications Google released a new report on Thursday highlighting how it has been combating online scams across its different products using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The report specifically focuses on how AI technology is being implemented in Search, Google Chrome, and Android. The Mountain View-based tech giant said that generative AI is enabling it to detect and stop even previously unheard-of scams. Notably, the company is using the on-device Gemini Nano AI model in the Chrome browser to deal with website-based scams. In a blog post, the tech giant announced that it has published a new Fighting Scams in Search report. The report details how Google has improved its AI-powered scam detection systems and classifiers, and claims that the new system can spot 20x the number of potential scamming websites compared to before. Website-based scams typically use fake or compromised websites to trick users into giving away money, personal information, or login credentials. While the way these scams are conducted can differ, their goal is generally to deceive users through imitation, urgency, or offers that seem too good to be true. Some examples of such scams include phishing sites, online shopping scams, investment and crypto scams, tech support scams, clone websites, and subscription traps. In Search, Google says it has improved its classifiers that detect and classify scams using AI. With these improvements, the tech giant can now de-rank these scams before any users can see them. Highlighting an example, the post mentioned that Search detected an increase in scammers impersonating airline customer service providers. The company claimed that these scams have been reduced by more than 80 percent in Search. Google Chrome has also improved the Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing. The mode now supports Gemini Nano, the on-device large language model (LLM) on desktop, to add an extra layer of protection for users. The model can detect potential phishing sites and inform Google to take action on them. The company said Gemini Nano can even detect scams that have not been previously seen by distilling the complex nature of websites. "Our goal is to expand this protection to Android devices and even more types of scams in the future," Google said. However, this does not mean the company has not added any new threat protection system on Android. Google Chrome on Android is getting a new feature to protect users from malicious website-based notifications. If the browser detects any notification from a website that can be a scam, it will instead show a warning labelled "Potential scam detected," with an option to either unsubscribe or view the notification. If users trust the website and believe the AI-powered feature made a mistake, they can view the content that was blocked. They can also choose to allow future notifications from the website.

Google wields AI to fight scams on Chrome, Search, Android -- Here's how it works

Google said in a blog post that it is catching 20 times more "scammy results" in Search using AI. This is helping keep users away from dangerous websites that try to steal personal information, it said.Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere now. Users are throwing everything from banal web searches to complex codes and surreal images at the AI agents at their disposal. Now, Google is using its AI assistant Gemini to look for online scams. Google recently revealed how it uses AI to shield users on Search, Chrome and Android. Search In a blog post dated May 8, Google said it is catching 20 times more "scammy results" in Search using AI, keeping users away from dangerous websites that try to steal personal information. Google uses AI to spot large-scale scam campaigns, for example, airline scams. The internet major says it has already cut down these scams in Search by over 80%. Chrome Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode offers security against phishing and online scams -- twice as effective as Google's Standard Protection, the tech major said. It is now using Gemini Nano, a smart on-device AI, to boost scam protection for Enhanced Protection users on desktop. Because Gemini Nano works directly on the device, it can spot new scams instantly, even ones that haven't been seen before. The AI is especially good at understanding complex websites, helping it react quickly to new scam techniques. It's already being used to block tech support scams, which are among the most common and dangerous online threats. Google plans to expand this AI protection to Android devices and cover more types of scams in the future. Android To check scamsters trying to get in through website notifications, Chrome on Android is introducing AI-powered warnings to spot spammy or misleading notifications. If a notification looks suspicious, Chrome's on-device AI will show a warning, giving the user the choice to unsubscribe or check what was blocked. If the alert was wrong, the user can still allow future notifications from that site. For scams through calls and text messages, Google has launched on-device AI-powered Scam Detection in Messages and Phone apps on Android.

Google integrates LLM Gemini Nano to prevent evolving scams

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. This week, a Google blog highlighted the organisation's role across AI advancements during the past decade and how they intend to "protect you from online scams where malicious actors deceive users to gain access to money, personal information, or both." Google reveal they have invested in their AI-powered scam detection systems, as well as made improvements to their classifiers across Search. The Big Tech is now able to analyse vast quantities of text on the web, identify coordinated scam campaigns and detect emerging threats. This has enabled them to "catch 20-times the number of scammy pages. These improvements help ensure the results you get are legitimate, and protect you from harmful sites trying to steal your sensitive data." Google Chrome now also uses Gemini Nano, an on-device large language model (LLM) on desktop, to provide users with an additional layer of defense against online scams and keeping them "twice as safe from phishing and other scams versus our Standard Protection mode." The on-device approach provides instant insight on risky websites and allows protection against "scams that haven't been seen before." Google express that a LLM is appropriate for this "because of its ability to distill the varied, complex nature of websites, helping us adapt to new scam tactics more quickly." They are already using this AI-powered approach to protect users from remote tech support scams. Beyond the website, Google are also launching AI-powered warnings for Chrome on Android. "When Chrome's on-device machine learning model flags a notification, you'll receive a warning with the option to either unsubscribe or view the content that was blocked. And if you decide the warning was shown incorrectly, you can choose to allow future notifications from that website." Google continued: "Scams are commonly being initiated through phone calls and text messages that appear harmless at first, but then evolve into dangerous situations. We recently launched on-device AI-powered Scam Detection in Google Messages and Phone by Google to protect Android users from these types of sophisticated scams."

Google Expands AI Tools to Combat Evolving Scam Tactics | PYMNTS.com

Google announced the rollout Thursday (May 8) of a fresh suite of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered safety features across its platforms to protect users from increasingly sophisticated scams. The company has integrated its on-device large language model (LLM), Gemini Nano, into Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode on desktop. This model analyzes websites in real time to detect and warn users about threats such as tech support scams that use pop-ups and full-screen takeovers. On-device processing lets the browser catch cloaked sites that hide their true content from traditional web crawlers. On Android, Chrome now includes AI-powered notification alerts. When a notification appears suspicious, users get a warning with the option to unsubscribe or view the blocked content. Users can also dismiss the alert if it seems incorrect. Google Messages and Phone by Google have featured since March on-device Scam Detection for texts and calls. These tools scan for scam-like behavior in SMS, MMS, RCS messages and voice calls, alerting users to act in real time. Google says all processing stays local on the device, ensuring user privacy. Google's defenses have evolved with its latest update. The company says its AI now blocks 20 times more scammy websites than it did three years ago. That increase comes from better detection of coordinated scam networks and support for multiple languages. Google also pointed to seeing a rise in misleading pages mimicking official resources including government services. In 2024, it implemented new protections decreased scams impersonating official sites by more than 70%. PYMNTS has tracked Alphabet's broader AI strategy, which includes embedding Gemini into Search and productivity tools and expanding its cloud services. These updates show how Google uses AI not just for innovation, but as a defensive moat around its users and brand. By embedding AI protections directly into its services, Google aims to preempt scams at the point of contact -- before users fall victim.

Google adds AI-powered scam protection to Search, Chrome, and Android

Google on Thursday shared how it's using AI to improve safety across Search, Chrome, and Android, with new updates designed to block scams, fake notifications, and tech support fraud more effectively. In Search, Google's AI systems now block hundreds of millions of scam-related pages every day. According to Jasika Bawa, Group Product Manager for Chrome, the company's upgraded scam-detection tools now catch 20 times more scam results than before. Google has also seen a spike in fake airline customer support scams -- where users are tricked into calling scam phone numbers. Bawa said that thanks to AI, these kinds of scams in Search have been cut down by over 80%. Chrome's Safe Browsing now uses Gemini Nano, Google's on-device AI model, on desktop to improve protection for users with Enhanced Protection enabled, said Phiroze Parakh, Senior Director of Engineering. This AI model instantly analyzes websites on the device to detect suspicious behavior, even from sites that have never been reported before. It helps guard against tech support scams -- websites that fake security alerts and pressure users into giving access or payments. Google said this feature will expand to Android and support more scam categories soon. Google is also introducing AI-powered alerts in Chrome for Android to deal with scam notifications. Scammy websites often send pop-up messages that mislead users into clicking dangerous links or giving up personal data. Chrome's AI analyzes notification text, including titles, bodies, and buttons, to detect scams or spam. This process is carried out on the device to maintain privacy. Google explained that the system was trained using synthetic data from its Gemini LLM and verified with real-world examples by human reviewers. This feature is launching first on Android, where most notifications are sent, but Google may bring it to more devices later. Chrome already offers a few tools to limit scammy alerts: In tech support scams, criminals trick users into believing their computer is infected and demand money or access. These scams often use full-screen warnings, block keyboard input, or impersonate system alerts. Chrome version 137 adds a new layer of defense using Gemini Nano to spot scam behavior in real time. When a risky page is visited, Gemini Nano looks for signs -- like using APIs that lock the keyboard -- and analyzes the page's intent. If flagged as a scam, Chrome sends the analysis to Safe Browsing, which may then show a warning. All processing is done on the device and doesn't slow down browser activity. Users who've enabled Enhanced Protection will get the strongest benefits, but even Standard users will be protected as new scams are added to blocklists. Google noted that many scam sites only stay live for less than 10 minutes and often show different content to users and security scanners. On-device analysis helps catch these scams as they appear to real users, making detection faster and more accurate. Beyond the browser, Google is also using on-device AI in its Messages and Phone apps to detect scam texts and calls. These scams may appear innocent at first but can quickly turn into fraud. Google said it plans to extend these protections to stop other types of fraud -- like fake package tracking links or unpaid toll scams. Gemini's AI will also be used to extract more advanced signals from web content. The company aims to roll out many of these protections to Chrome on Android later this year.

Google adds AI to Chrome to catch scam websites before you fall for them

This means Chrome can help protect you even from new scams that haven't been seen before. Scams are getting smarter, but so is Google. In a recent announcement, Google shared how it's now using powerful AI tools to protect users from online scams across Search, Chrome and Android. These tools are designed to spot dangerous websites, fake phone numbers and scam messages before they can trick you. Keep reading for the details. Google Search is now better than ever at filtering out harmful websites. With improved AI systems, Google is blocking hundreds of millions of scammy pages every day. The company says its new tools can catch 20 times more fake pages than before. "We've observed a significant increase in bad actors on the web impersonating airline customer service providers and scamming people in need of help. We've already reduced these scams by more than 80% in Search, greatly reducing the risk that you call a scammy phone number," the tech giant said in a blogpost. Also read: Google finds new malware from Russia-backed hacking group: What it can do and how to stay safe Google is adding stronger protections to its Chrome browser. With the help of Gemini Nano, an on-device AI model, Chrome's Enhanced Protection mode now gives users instant warnings about suspicious websites. This means Chrome can help protect you even from new scams that haven't been seen before. "We're already using this new AI-powered approach to protect users from remote tech support scams, one of the biggest online threats facing users today. Our goal is to expand this protection to Android devices and even more types of scams in the future," Google added. Scam risks aren't limited to just websites. Some malicious sites send fake or misleading push notifications. To fight this, Chrome on Android now uses on-device AI to spot suspicious notifications. If something looks off, you'll get a warning and can choose to unsubscribe or view the blocked message. You also have the option to keep getting messages from the site if you think it's safe. Also read: Retired govt official loses Rs 22 lakh after clicking on an ad: Here's what happened "No one likes being tricked, but history has shown us that scammers are constantly evolving their tactics and unlikely to give up anytime soon. That's why we're committed to making their job as hard as possible through using Google's latest AI advancements to raise the bar for safety across all of our products," Google said.