Ethical Hacking News
Google has launched an AI-powered scam detection feature for Android, designed to safeguard users from conversational scams. The new feature, which will be available in English first in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, uses machine learning models to flag suspicious patterns and deliver real-time warnings over the course of a conversation without compromising user privacy.
Google has introduced an AI-powered scam detection feature for Android devices to combat conversational scams. The feature uses machine learning to flag suspicious patterns and deliver real-time warnings without compromising user privacy. User conversations remain private, but reporting a chat as spam can share sender details and recent messages with Google and carriers. The feature is launching in English first in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, with broader expansion planned.
Google has taken a significant step forward in combatting cyber threats by announcing the rollout of its latest innovation in mobile security. The company has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered scam detection feature, designed to safeguard Android device users and their personal information from conversational scams.
The new feature is part of Google's ongoing efforts to enhance user safety and privacy on its platforms. According to a statement by the company, these features specifically target conversational scams, which can initially appear harmless before evolving into malicious situations. The rise of phone calling scammers using spoofing techniques has made it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and phishing calls.
To address this issue, Google has partnered with financial institutions to better understand the nature of scams customers are encountering. This collaboration allows the company to devise AI models that can flag suspicious patterns and deliver real-time warnings over the course of a conversation without compromising user privacy. The AI models run completely on-device, alerting users in the event of a likely scam.
Users will then have an option to either dismiss or report and block the sender. The setting is enabled by default and applies only to conversations with phone numbers that are not in the device's contact list. This measure ensures that users are not unnecessarily disturbed by false positives while still protecting them from potential threats.
The company emphasizes that users' conversations remain private, and if they choose to report a chat as spam, then the sender details and recent messages with that sender are shared with Google and carriers. This information is used solely for the purpose of improving the AI model and enhancing overall security.
The feature is launching in English first in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, with broader expansion planned for a later date. In addition to this rollout, a similar scam detection for phone calls is being expanded to all English-speaking Pixel 9+ users in the U.S. The feature was first introduced in November 2024.
It's worth noting that while this feature is initially set to be enabled by default, giving users control over their security settings, the call audio is processed ephemerally and is never used during phone calls with contacts. If enabled, Scam Detection will beep at the start and during the call to notify participants the feature is on. Users can turn off Scam Detection at any time, during an individual call or for all future calls.
This development comes weeks after Google revealed that more than 1 billion Chrome users are using the Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing in the web browser. The company's emphasis on advanced AI and machine learning techniques to spot dangerous URLs engaging in known phishing, social engineering, and scam techniques highlights its commitment to providing robust security measures for its users.
The introduction of this feature marks a significant milestone in Google's ongoing efforts to combat cyber threats and protect user safety. By leveraging AI-powered technology, the company is taking proactive steps to prevent conversational scams and safeguard Android device users' personal information.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Revolution-in-Mobile-Security-Google-Unveils-AI-Powered-Scam-Detection-for-Android-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2025/03/google-rolls-out-ai-scam-detection-for.html
https://security.googleblog.com/2025/03/new-ai-powered-scam-detection-features.html
Published: Wed Mar 5 09:35:33 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
