Google Gives Pixels Greater Capabilities to Identify Malicious Apps and Fraudulent Calls

Google has declared that its Pixel devices will now have additional security capabilities to guard against fraudulent calls and malware apps. If the Google Play Protect live threat detection tool finds malware or questionable app activity, it instantly notifies consumers. Similar to this, the Scam Detection feature employs artificial intelligence built into the smartphone to identify and alert users in real time to any scam calls.

Google revealed on its security blog that the Pixel 6 and later Pixel models now support live threat detection with real-time notifications in Google Play Protect. In the upcoming months, the feature will also be accessible on other Android handsets, the business revealed. Currently available to a limited number of Pixel customers in the US through public beta, the Scam Detection function of the Pixel phone app is anticipated to become widely available following the testing phase.

Google Play Protect live threat detection: Details

Explained that Google, Play Protect examines behavioural cues pertaining to interactions with other apps and services as well as the use of sensitive permissions. The new live threat detection feature alerts the user in real time if a malicious app is discovered, allowing them to take quick action. The business added that rogue apps can now be detected by live threat detection, even if they attempt to conceal their actions or lie dormant for a while before committing suspicious activities.

The new function uses Private Compute Core, an isolated data processing environment built into the Android operating system, to gather and analyse sensitive and personal data on smartphones for privacy purposes.

Scam Detection in Phone: Details

Explained that Google, the new Scam Detection function alerts customers if it recognises a possible scam call using on-device AI. If an ongoing call seems to be a fraud, the function recognises conversation patterns frequently linked to scams and instantly notifies users visually and audibly.

Google explained the AI detection model and processing are fully on-device and no audio or transcription is stored on the device or sent to servers. The feature is disabled by default and can be enabled or disabled by the user at any time.