Security and privacy improvements are important to keep all threats that may arise to your phone at bay. This is why Google has developed two tools to protect your personal information from fraudulent scams and malicious apps from the Play Store, so we explain how each mechanism works.
The new options announced by Google are called Scam Detection and Threat Detection and, as their names indicate, the purpose is clear. The American company provides more details about it on their official blogwhere they mention their intention to improve and keep safe the privacy of the user and their smartphone.
Security improvements to avoid mobile scams
Telephone scams are one of the most common data theft methods in Spain and many older people fall into the trap. To do this, they usually pose as banking entities, operators or data analysis companies, which do not initially raise suspicion when requesting information from the user.
Google is aware of the problem and for this reason it is making the most of the capabilities of its AI. To such an extent that it has developed a functionality for Automatically detect calls in real time scam received. The operation is so simple that it only consists of sending a audible, tactile and visual warning to the user as shown in the following image, where a window appears where the user is given the possibility of hanging up the call after detecting that it is a scam when analyzing the conversation.
This feature will appear disabled by default to look after the owner’s safety, but it can be easily activated from the settings. It is also worth noting that this AI function is a process of the phone itself, so no audio is saved nor is it sent to Google for study, so in terms of privacy it is a big improvement.
The Google App Store is also updated with a new security and privacy option. Play Store It already has Play Protect to protect against malicious applications when detecting suspicious behavior or unusual permissions. This functionality is complemented by Threat detection as the latest development in the system to locate applications that, according to Google itself: ‘they go to great lengths to hide their behavior or remain inactive for a period of time before engaging in suspicious activity.’
Availability on Android
However, it must be clarified in advance that Google’s security blog indicates that this option is only capable of detecting what is known as stalkerware. These refer to codes developed specifically to access and steal the user’s personal data. Likewise, the same Mountain View company mentions that the feature will be extended to detect more types of malware.
The first phones to enjoy these advantages and security improvements are Google’s own Pixel, although it will soon reach the rest of compatible Android devices. It is not specified at any time from which version it is available, but we will be attentive to send you such information to know if your phone will receive the new Google privacy functions.
