On the Android Present on Tuesday, forward of Google I/O, Google introduced new safety and privateness options for Android. These new options embrace new protections for calls, display sharing, messages, machine entry, and system-level permissions. With these options, Google goals to guard customers from falling for a rip-off, hold their particulars safe in case a tool is stolen or taken over by an attacker, and improve device-level safety for varied assaults.
Cellphone scammers typically ask customers to take actions like tapping on unsafe hyperlinks or downloading unknown apps. As a way to defend 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 record.
For Android 16, these actions embrace 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 machine. The corporate can be stopping customers operating Android 6 or later from disabling Google Play Defend, which scans the machine for dangerous apps whereas they’re on a name.
Google is including screen-sharing safety as effectively by reminding customers to cease sharing the display after a name ends.
The corporate can be testing a brand new warning display with choose banks within the U.Ok. to stop fraud by way of screen-sharing. When customers on units operating Android 11 or later open a associate financial institution’s app whereas sharing a display with an unknown quantity, the machine will present a warning display with a button to rapidly finish the screen-sharing.
Messages safety
Google is enhancing safety in opposition to scams in Google Messages after launching the function in March. The function makes use of on-device AI to alert customers of a possible rip-off primarily based on the dialog. The corporate is now bolstering consumer safety by having the device to detect extra varieties of fraud, together with crypto, present card, toll street, and different billing charges, monetary impersonation, and technical help.
What’s extra, the corporate is including verification keys to the Google Contacts app, which is able to assist customers authenticate that the individual on the opposite finish is the meant receiver. Customers can confirm their contacts by having them scan a QR code or match numbers displayed on the display.
Verified keys imply that your dialog along with your contact on Google Messages is end-to-end encrypted and secured. Google mentioned that if an attacker begins controlling a cellphone quantity by way of a SIM swap assault and messages you thru a brand new machine, the Google Contacts app will present the verification standing as unverified. This function can be accessible for Google Messages later this summer time for customers operating Android 10 or later variations.
Theft-protection measures
Earlier this yr, Google rolled out Id Test safety to Pixel and Samsung units with OneUI 7. The function requires customers to make use of biometric authentication to vary vital settings like altering your machine PIN or biometrics, disabling theft safety, or accessing Passkeys when the consumer just isn’t at one of many trusted places they’ve added. The corporate is now making this function accessible to different machine makers with Android 16.
Later this yr, Google will add higher safety for Manufacturing unit Reset, limiting all types of features on the machine which are reset with out authorization of the earlier lock sample/PIN or Google account credentials. This primarily makes a stolen machine onerous to make use of.
To forestall somebody from locking your machine remotely, the corporate is including a safety problem query to stop unauthorized entry. With Android 16, the corporate may even conceal one-time passwords if the machine just isn’t related to Wi-Fi and hasn’t been unlocked just lately.
Further protections
The corporate is including new options to its Google Play Defend stay detection program as effectively, which detect unsafe apps which have hidden or modified icons. This function can be accessible within the coming months for customers operating Google Pixel 6+. The corporate mentioned 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 Superior Safety Mode to guard public figures with new on-device options. The corporate can be debuting a brand new Discover My Hub to maintain observe of things, mates, and household.
Try watch the livestream and extra from Google I/O.
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