Google Boosts Real-Time Protection Against Scams and Malware on Android Devices
Pixel users are the first to benefit from new AI-powered security features in Phone by Google and Google Play Protect.
Google has announced a suite of new real-time security features designed to enhance user safety on Android devices. Focusing on combating scams and malicious apps, these features leverage on-device AI to provide proactive protection without compromising user privacy.
Scam Detection in Phone by Google
Phone by Google now includes Scam Detection, a feature that uses AI to analyze calls in real-time and identify potential scams. “Real-time defense, right on your device,” Google explains, “Scam Detection uses powerful on-device AI to notify you of a potential scam call happening in real-time by detecting conversation patterns commonly associated with scams.”
For example, if a caller pressures you for urgent financial information or claims to be from a trusted institution like your bank, Scam Detection can issue an alert, providing both audio and visual warnings.
Privacy is a key consideration in this new feature. Google emphasizes that “Scam Detection is off by default,” and users have granular control over its activation. Importantly, all analysis happens on the device itself. “The AI detection model and processing are fully on-device, which means that no conversation audio or transcription is stored on the device, sent to Google servers or anywhere else, or retrievable after the call.”
Initially rolling out to English-speaking users in the U.S. with a Pixel 6 or newer device, Scam Detection utilizes Google’s advanced on-device AI models, including Gemini Nano on the Pixel 9 series.
Live Threat Detection in Google Play Protect
Google Play Protect, Android’s built-in security service, has also been enhanced with live threat detection capabilities. This feature provides real-time alerts if a harmful app is detected on a device.
Image: Google
By analyzing app behavior patterns, live threat detection can identify malicious apps even if they attempt to conceal their true nature. At launch, this feature will primarily focus on detecting stalkerware – “code that may collect personal or sensitive data for monitoring purposes without user consent.” Google plans to expand detection capabilities to other types of harmful apps in the future.
Google reassures users that live threat detection operates with privacy in mind. Utilizing the Private Compute Core, this feature analyzes app behavior on the device without sending data back to Google.
Live threat detection with real-time alerts is now available on Pixel 6+ devices and will be rolled out to other Android devices in the coming months.
