Google Messages Enhances User Safety with AI-Powered Scam Detection and Privacy Features

Google Messages App Gets Enhanced Scam Detection, Content Warnings

First up is enhanced scam detection. The feature uses on-device machine learning, a subfield of AI, to detect scam texts including fraudulent package delivery texts and job scam texts. Once identified, it will automatically send them to the spam folder or alert the user. It's currently available for Google Messages beta users who have enabled spam protection. Google Messages may also soon warn users about dangerous links they receive. It's already testing the feature in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, with plans to expand it globally later this year. It cautions users when they receive links from unknown senders and can block messages with links if they're from suspicious senders. Since spam texts often come from international numbers, Google Messages is also working on a feature that hides messages from unknown international numbers and sends them to the "Spam & blocked" folder automatically. Google will test the feature in Singapore later this year. Another big addition to Google Messages is sensitive content warnings -- something Apple and several social media platforms like Instagram already have. When enabled, the feature will blur messages containing nude imagery and present prompt that contains resources and options, but will ultimately still let recipients view the content. Google says that since the messages are end-to-end encrypted, it won't be able to access or see the nude images. The feature will roll out to devices running Android 9 or later in the coming months and will be enabled by default for users under 18. Google is also developing a feature that helps you verify contacts and ensure you're texting the right person. To make this possible, Google is working on "a unified system for public key verification" across apps, which can be checked via QR codes or number comparison. The feature will work with Google Messages and a few other Android messaging apps, and will roll out sometime next year. Google tested similar AI-powered scam detection in Gmail earlier this year, demonstrating at a conference how AI can identify phishing scams. It's also developed a feature for Android that uses Gemini AI to detect phone call scams in real-time.

Google Messages Rolls Out New Privacy and Spam Protection Features

It introduces protection against texts from unknown international senders Google Messages is rolling out several new features aimed at improving user privacy and protecting them from suspicious calls and messages. One of the additions is protection against scam texts related to package deliveries and jobs, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) models. There are also features related to handling international callers and contact verifications. The messaging platform says it will expand intelligent warnings about potentially dangerous links to the global market later this year. In a blog post, Google detailed the new features coming to its Messages app as part of the cybersecurity awareness month. 1. Enhanced Spam Protection: Beta users of the Messages app who have spam protection enabled will get access to a new feature that can alert them and automatically move potentially scam text messages about package deliveries or jobs to the spam folder. This feature is said to leverage on-device machine learning (ML) to identify and classify the conversations. Google claims that text messages will remain private unless specifically reported as spam. 2. Potentially Dangerous Links: The Mountain View-based tech giant is currently running a pilot in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore which alerts users about potentially dangerous links received from unknown senders in messages and blocks them. This functionality will be expanded to the global market later this year. 3. Sensitive Content Warnings: Google has introduced Sensitive Content Warnings as an optional feature for its Messages app. It blurs explicit content and provides options to users, including the ability to view the media. When forwarding the content to others, it brings up a warning, reminding users of the risks associated with sending explicit media. The company claims the entire process happens on-device, maintaining end-to-end encryption and user privacy. Sensitive Content Warning in Google Messages is opt-in for adults over the age of 18, while it is opt-out for users aged below. 4. Protection Against International Senders: Google Messages will soon automatically hide the text messages received from unrecognised international senders. Messages will be moved to the Spam & blocked folders. This feature will be rolled out as a pilot project in Singapore later this year and will gradually be expanded to more regions. 5. Contact Verification: Another feature rolling out on the messaging platform is contact verification. It will let users verify contacts' public keys to confirm their identity before messaging them. For this, Google is developing a unified public key verification system which leverages QR code or number comparison. This feature will be rolled out for devices running Android 9 or later, next year.

The Google Messages app is getting a few important safety features | Digital Trends

Google's software theme for 2024 has been safety. With the arrival of Android 15, the company added a host of anti-theft measures for phones, and later locked the Find My system behind biometric check. Next in line is the Messages app. Earlier today, the company announced enhanced scam detection, putting special focus on package delivery scams and job frauds. Package delivery frauds have been on the rise lately, and they are being used for everything from brushing scams to those extorting money in the name of fake package delivery problems. Recommended Videos Even the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a warning about the sharp rise in such scams. These deceptions usually originate with a misleading text message and often contain a fake tracking link. Google says the Messages app will rely on on-device AI smarts to detect scammy texts. It will subsequently warn users about such messages and will automatically park them in the spam folder. This feature has already started rolling out to beta testers. Next, Google is expanding a safety scan system that automatically looks for links or URLs that could be malicious. Such URL can deal a lot of damage, ranging from installation of malware packages to redirecting users to a phishing portal. So far, this system has been tested in a few Asian countries, including India. Now, Google says it will expand intelligent URL warnings for Messages users worldwide before the end of this year. But there is still a chance that users might fall into a web of carefully orchestrated online fraud starting with seemingly urgent messages. To avoid such a scenario, Google will offer an added layer of protection that blocks messages from unknown international senders. Cybercriminals often use virtual numbers of international origin to avoid tracking and detection by local law enforcement authorities. Google notes that the Messages app will let users automatically hide all such messages from international senders to minimize the risks. All such communication will be pushed to the "Spam & blocked" folder in the Messages app. Rollout of this feature begins in Singapore, and based on the reception, it will be expanding to more markets. But scammers don't always use international numbers. They often try to spoof legitimate business entities like banking, automobile, and logistics brands using a business sender profile. In some cases, they simply try to pass off as an acquaintance. To tackle such sophisticated threats, the Messages app is prepping a contact verification system. This would rely on each contact's public key for verification, a system that checks for the sender's identity using a QR or registered phone number. Google has already started working on a unified public key dashboard and will make the contact key verification system available for all phones running Android 9 or a later version.

Google Messages Enhances User Safety with Sensitive Content Warnings and Improved Spam Detection

Google Messages Rolls Out New Privacy Features to Protect Users from Spam and Sensitive Content Google Messages is rolling out a series of new features designed to improve user privacy and protect them from suspicious calls and messages. These updates, launched during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, include enhanced spam protection, sensitive content warnings and additional safeguards against scams and phishing attempts. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the platform's new features aim to address increasing concerns about user security in the digital world.