Google will now use AI to protect you from scams and malicious apps

Google introduced two new artificial intelligence (AI) safety tools for Android devices on Wednesday. These tools aim to protect users from call-based scams and malicious apps by monitoring activity in real time. The first is Google’s Scam Detection in Phone, which monitors call patterns to determine whether an incoming call could be a scam. The second is real-time alerts from Google Play Protect that monitors the background activity of an app after it has been installed to detect malicious apps.

The tech giant detailed the two new security tools in its security update blog post. Both features are rolling out to Google Pixel 6 and newer models. The Scam Detection feature in the phone will initially only be available in the US to those who have signed up for the Google Beta Program. The call-based security tool only works on English-language phone calls. Google Play Protect’s live alerts will also be available outside the US.

Scam detection in the phone by Google
Photo credits: Google

The Scam Detection feature differs from typical caller ID apps and services that use phone numbers and track calling behavior to determine if a number is associated with a scam. Instead, Google uses its on-device machine learning models to process a call’s conversation pattern in real time to determine whether an incoming call is a scam. With the Pixel 9 series, this is done by Gemini Nano.

To give an example, the tech giant said that if a caller claims to be from the user’s bank and asks him to transfer money due to a breach, the AI ​​model can process the audio information and build its database can be used to confirm whether similar conversation patterns have been used. to scam people.

Once the AI ​​determines that a call may be a scam, it provides an audio and haptic alert as well as a visual alert. Google emphasized that the feature will remain disabled by default and users can enable it for all calls through the Phone app settings or for a specific call. The company claimed that no call audio or transcription is stored on the device, sent to Google’s servers or elsewhere, or retrieved after the call.

Google Play Protect Live threat detection feature

The second feature is part of Google Play Protect, a security tool that checks the Play Store for malicious and harmful apps. With the AI-powered Live Threat Detection feature, Google’s AI models monitor installed apps on eligible Android devices. If an app exhibits suspicious behavior or unnecessary interaction with other apps, the tool provides a real-time alert to the user.

Google Play Protect live threat detection
Photo credits: Google

Google claims that this AI tool will be able to detect apps that are inactive for a while after installation to avoid suspicion. Furthermore, because users can detect malicious behavior in real time, they can take timely action to prevent data theft. Notably, at launch, the tool will only target stalkerware and malicious apps that collect personal or sensitive user data without permission.