Google has improved its ability to detect scam messages in Google Messages, the default texting app on most Android phones. It now stops billions of suspicious messages every month, and uses on-device processing to protect user privacy.
This upgrade is a big step forward for Android security, as it tackles the increase in scams that start out seeming harmless but end up causing financial loss or stolen data. Before, Google Messages’ Scam Detection mainly focused on package delivery and job-seeking scams. Now, it covers a much larger range of fraudulent activities.
The system uses AI to actively find and warn users about cryptocurrency scams, fake financial messages, toll road and billing fee scams, gift card and prize scams, and tech support scams. This is a lot like how Google uses Gemini Nano to detect scams. Apparently, Google is adapting its understanding based on partnerships with financial institutions around the world. Google claims these partnerships gave the company important insights into the latest scam methods, helping it improve its AI models for better detection.
The key to Google Messages’ improved scam detection is its on-device AI. This is important for privacy because all messages are checked locally, without sending sensitive data to Google’s servers. The AI looks at conversation patterns in real time, spotting suspicious language, links, and requests that could signal a scam. Users get an immediate warning when something suspicious is found, helping them avoid becoming victims.
This real-time alert system is a major upgrade over traditional spam filters, which mostly block messages before a conversation starts. Many scams work by building trust over time, and Google’s new approach directly fights this tactic.
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Besides warnings, people can also report and block suspicious senders. Obviously, reporting helps Google improve its AI even more, letting the system learn and adapt to new scams as they appear, instead of relying on it to catch the messages. This will help more than just yourself because some scammers can get lazy and reuse the same number or method for multiple users.
Users also have full control over the system, so you aren’t forced to use it. You can turn off Spam Protection, which includes Scam Detection, anytime in Google Messages settings. However, since the data isn’t sent to Google and is worked with locally, even in reports, it may be in your best interest to keep it on.
Google is already pretty safe. Its Fighting Scams in Search report showed that the company has protected its users from hundreds of millions of scam attempts. However, scammers keep adapting, which is an ongoing battle for both sides. We’ve already seen improvements in March, so it seems like this is a high priority for Google.
Better scam detection works across many Android versions and should reach as many users as possible. While some features might vary slightly depending on the Android version, the main goal is to protect everyone using an Android.
Source: Google
