At the Android Show on Tuesday, forward of Google I/O, Google introduced new safety and privateness options for Android. These new options embody new protections for calls, display sharing, messages, gadget entry, and system-level permissions. With these options, Google goals to guard customers from falling for a rip-off, preserve their particulars safe in case a tool is stolen or taken over by an attacker, and improve device-level safety for varied assaults.
Phone scammers typically ask customers to take actions like tapping on unsafe hyperlinks or downloading unknown apps. In order to guard customers, Google is obstructing some actions and warning customers of a possible rip-off whereas they’re on a name with somebody not of their contact checklist.
For Android 16, these actions embody side-loading an app for the primary time from an internet browser, messaging app, or different sources that haven’t been verified by Google, and granting accessibility permission to an app so {that a} scammer can take management of the gadget. The firm can also be stopping customers working Android 6 or later from disabling Google Play Protect, which scans the gadget for dangerous apps whereas they’re on a name.
Google is including screen-sharing safety as properly by reminding customers to cease sharing the display after a name ends.
The firm can also be testing a brand new warning display with choose banks within the U.Ok. to forestall fraud by way of screen-sharing. When customers on gadgets working Android 11 or later open a companion financial institution’s app whereas sharing a display with an unknown quantity, the gadget will present a warning display with a button to rapidly finish the screen-sharing.
Messages safety
Google is enhancing safety towards scams in Google Messages after launching the characteristic in March. The characteristic makes use of on-device AI to alert customers of a possible rip-off based mostly on the dialog. The firm is now bolstering person safety by having the instrument to detect extra varieties of fraud, together with crypto, reward card, toll street, and different billing charges, monetary impersonation, and technical assist.
What’s extra, the corporate is including verification keys to the Google Contacts app, which can assist customers authenticate that the particular person on the opposite finish is the meant receiver. Users can confirm their contacts by having them scan a QR code or match numbers displayed on the display.
Verified keys imply that your dialog together with your contact on Google Messages is end-to-end encrypted and secured. Google stated that if an attacker begins controlling a cellphone quantity by way of a SIM swap assault and messages you thru a brand new gadget, the Google Contacts app will present the verification standing as unverified. This characteristic can be out there for Google Messages later this summer time for customers working Android 10 or later variations.
Theft-protection measures
Earlier this 12 months, Google rolled out Identity Check safety to Pixel and Samsung gadgets with OneUI 7. The characteristic requires customers to make use of biometric authentication to vary crucial settings like altering your gadget PIN or biometrics, disabling theft safety, or accessing Passkeys when the person isn’t at one of many trusted places they’ve added. The firm is now making this characteristic out there to different gadget makers with Android 16.
Later this 12 months, Google will add higher safety for Factory Reset, limiting every kind of features on the gadget which are reset with out authorization of the earlier lock sample/PIN or Google account credentials. This primarily makes a stolen gadget laborious to make use of.
To stop somebody from locking your gadget remotely, the corporate is including a safety problem query to forestall unauthorized entry. With Android 16, the corporate may also cover one-time passwords if the gadget isn’t linked to Wi-Fi and hasn’t been unlocked just lately.
Additional protections
The firm is including new options to its Google Play Protect stay detection program as properly, which detect unsafe apps which have hidden or modified icons. This characteristic can be out there within the coming months for customers working Google Pixel 6+. The firm stated it’s now making use of a brand new set of on-device guidelines to catch extra classes of malicious apps.
Google is including new measures to bolster its Advanced Protection Mode to guard public figures with new on-device options. The firm can also be debuting a brand new Find My Hub to maintain monitor of things, pals, and household.
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