In an attempt to improve user safety, Google has added five new security features to the Google Messages app for Android, however most of these capabilities are not yet widely available.
According to Android Authority, a full rollout is scheduled for the coming months, however some capabilities are only available in some areas. Nonetheless, the app’s enhanced ability to identify package delivery and employment-related frauds is already in use.
Read on to find out all the details!
Google Introduces 5 New Security Features
Google Messages will notify users and prevent messages that contain links from dubious sources when they get a link from an unknown sender. According to Google, this link-detection tool is presently being evaluated in a pilot program in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, with wider availability anticipated later this year.
Google Messages’ Sensitive Content Warning function is intended to automatically blur images that might be nude. Users get a “speed bump” message with resources and options to properly view or manage the content when this functionality is enabled. An additional layer of security against sensitive content will be provided by this warning feature, which will notify users of the dangers of sharing potentially explicit photographs anytime they try to transmit or transfer such content through the app.
Google has said that in order to detect SMS-based scams, its Messages app would employ on-device scam detection technology. Beta users can use this function, which alerts users to possible fraud or automatically moves suspected spam texts to a specified folder, provided they enable spam protection settings. In particular, it assists customers in avoiding frauds that rely on SMS, like the most recent India Post scam.
India Post Scam
Users who fall victim to the India Post scam are notified that their items cannot be delivered because of an invalid address. They are also urged to amend their information by clicking on a link that looks to be from India Post. Scammers then telephone victims, urging them to click on the link and act right away. When victims click on the link, they are taken to a bogus website that asks for a small redelivery fee. Users are then prompted to provide sensitive credit or debit card information, which leaves them vulnerable to identity theft and illegal transactions.
Users To Be Able To Check Public Keys Of Contacts
In order to guarantee secure communication and make sure they are texting the right person, users will soon be able to check the public keys of their contacts. This feature, which is anticipated to be available on Android 9 and later smartphones next year, attempts to make it more difficult for attackers to spoof a user’s contacts. Google Messages and other chat apps that make use of Google’s security features will be supported.
Users will soon be able to conceal messages from foreign senders that are not on their contact list in Google Messages. This function, which improves user safety by removing unsolicited messages from unknown overseas senders, will automatically move scam texts from international numbers to the “Spam & Blocked” area once it is enabled.
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