Google Adds AI Scam Defenses to Android Calls, Texts and Screen Sharing

Google is launching new Android security features designed to block mobile scams before they occur, including built-in protections for Google Messages and call forwarding. According to a blog post published on Wednesday, the company is leveraging artificial intelligence to offer these defenses and is currently flagging five million suspected scam calls and texts each month in its Phone and Google Messages applications.

The most significant update involves an optional enhanced protection mode for Google Messages. This feature uses AI computing power to evaluate message content more thoroughly, allowing the system to understand a scammer’s intent faster when users converse with unknown senders. Google states that this processing is handled privately with encryption on its servers. The mode also screens for malicious links and unfamiliar numbers, though it is not immediately available and will roll out over the next few weeks.

Context and Background

Google plans to extend scam detection to chat notifications on smartphones from other manufacturers later this year. This expansion will include devices from Motorola, OnePlus and Xiaomi, as well as Google’s own Pixel phones. The company commissioned a study to gauge user concern regarding scams, finding that 40% of the 4,500 adults surveyed by YouGov are “very” or “extremely” concerned about mobile fraud.

Who Is Affected

These updates may particularly impact former users of Samsung Messages, which shut down in July. Users of that service were urged to switch to Google Messages, meaning they will benefit from these new protections as they migrate. The screen-sharing protection prevents sensitive information from being shown in login fields. For example, if a user is screen sharing and needs to enter a password, those fields will automatically be hidden to guard that information from view.

What should you do?

Proactive call-forwarding protection will block apps from forwarding calls without notifying the user. This measure stops scammers from using call-forwarding tricks to intercept passcodes and hijack accounts. These features represent a shift toward proactive defense, aiming to stop fraud attempts before they happen.

What to do and how to stay safe: Google

• Check your Google Messages settings for the new enhanced protection mode once it becomes available in the coming weeks.
• Review your call-forwarding settings to ensure no apps have silently redirected your calls without your explicit notification.
• Be cautious when using screen-sharing features, as the new protection automatically hides login fields to prevent credential exposure.
• Monitor your device notifications for scam warnings, as Google is expanding detection to chat notifications on various Android brands.

Step-by-step guide: Social Engineering Warning Signs and How to Respond

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

When will the enhanced protection mode for Google Messages be available?

Google says the option will roll out over the next few weeks, as it is not immediately available.

Which other phone manufacturers will get scam detection for chat notifications?

Motorola, OnePlus and Xiaomi devices will receive these updates later this year, along with Pixel devices.

How does the new screen-sharing protection work?

It automatically hides sensitive login fields, such as password entries, when a user is screen sharing to guard that information.