Android launches new protections against phone call scammers

Google is rolling retired respective caller features to support Android users from falling unfortunate to telephone telephone scams. Now, Android volition automatically artifact users from sideloading an app for the archetypal clip from a web browser, messaging app, oregon different work portion connected a telephone with an chartless contact.

Google volition besides halt users from giving an app accessibility permissions portion talking connected the phone, helping to forestall a perchance unsafe app from gaining power of their instrumentality and stealing idiosyncratic information. If you effort to set these settings during a call, Google volition show a connection saying: “This mounting is blocked to support your device.” It besides warns users that “scammers whitethorn effort to instrumentality power of your instrumentality by asking you to let accessibility entree for an app.”

Google already blocks users from disabling its app information service, Play Protect, during telephone calls. The institution says these protections hap “completely connected device” and should assistance forestall scammers from tricking users into downloading malicious apps and enabling delicate permissions. The caller protections are disposable connected devices with Android 16.

Google besides announced that it’s investigating a caller Android diagnostic to discourage users from opening their banking app portion sharing their surface connected a call. The feature, which is rolling retired to banking apps successful the UK, including Monzo, NatWest, and Revolut to start, is meant to combat screen-sharing scams wherever fraudsters impersonate banks oregon authorities agencies to person victims to execute harmful actions, similar slope transfers.

When users effort to motorboat a banking app portion sharing their surface with an chartless contact, Google volition show a pop-up to pass of a “likely scam,” portion offering an “end call” fastener that users tin property to instantly bent up and halt sharing their screen. If users take not to extremity the call, they’ll person to hold 30 seconds earlier they tin proceed to stock their banking app’s screen. This volition beryllium disposable to devices moving Android 11 and newer, and Google says it volition “assess the results of the pilot” earlier rolling it retired much widely.

These features physique upon Android’s increasing scam extortion tools. Last year, it started utilizing AI to observe if a caller mightiness beryllium a scammer and promote users to extremity these calls. It besides rolled retired AI-powered scam detection successful Google Messages, which has expanded to much types of scams, specified arsenic those that effort to cod idiosyncratic accusation done phony toll roadworthy billing messages, crypto scams, fiscal impersonation scams, and more.