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Google Messages is rolling out a series of new features designed to improve user privacy and protect them from suspicious calls and messages. These updates, launched during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, include enhanced spam protection, sensitive content warnings and additional safeguards against scams and phishing attempts. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the platform’s new features aim to address increasing concerns about user security in the digital world.
One of the standout features is the enhanced spam detection system. Google Messages is improving its protection against scam texts related to package deliveries and job offers by using on-device machine learning to identify and classify such messages as spam. For beta users who have spam protection enabled, these suspicious messages will be automatically moved to the spam folder. Google emphasizes that messages will remain private unless they are reported as spam by users, ensuring user privacy while providing robust security.
In another bid to protect users from harmful content, Google is piloting a new feature in select countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. This feature warns users about potentially dangerous links in messages from unknown senders. If a suspicious link is detected, Google Messages blocks it, offering an additional layer of security. The company plans to expand this protection to the global market later this year.
Google Messages is also introducing an optional feature that blurs explicit or inappropriate content, giving users control over whether they want to view the media. Users can opt-in to enable sensitive content warnings, with adults over 18 having full control over the feature, while younger users are automatically opted-in. The warnings also appear when users attempt to forward explicit content, reminding them of the risks. Importantly, this feature operates on-device, maintaining end-to-end encryption and privacy.
In response to rising threats from international scammers, Google Messages will soon hide text messages from unrecognized international senders by automatically moving them to the spam and blocked folders. This feature will first be piloted in Singapore and will gradually expand to other regions.
Google is keen on ensuring the safety of its users by adding the contact verification method across its various messaging platforms. With this new feature, Google users will now be able to confirm public keys so that they can identify contacts before sending them messages. Next year such a feature would be implemented on Android 9 and up with QR codes and number comparisons for verification.
This will help thwart any potential calamities in the platform in offering communication services, and multi-level security for Google users.
