On the Android Present on Tuesday, forward of Google I/O, Google introduced new security and privateness options for Android. These new options embody new protections for calls, display screen sharing, messages, machine entry, and system-level permissions. With these options, Google goals to guard customers from falling for a rip-off, maintain their particulars safe in case a tool is stolen or taken over by an attacker, and improve device-level security for numerous assaults.
Telephone scammers usually ask customers to take actions like tapping on unsafe hyperlinks or downloading unknown apps. With the intention to shield 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 online 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 also be stopping customers working Android 6 or later from disabling Google Play Shield, which scans the machine for dangerous apps whereas they’re on a name.
Google is including screen-sharing safety as nicely by reminding customers to cease sharing the display screen after a name ends.
The corporate can also be testing a brand new warning display screen with choose banks within the U.Okay. to forestall fraud via screen-sharing. When customers on gadgets working Android 11 or later open a accomplice financial institution’s app whereas sharing the display screen whereas on a name with an unknown quantity, the machine will present them a brand new warning display screen a couple of doable rip-off with a button to shortly finish the display screen sharing.
Messages safety
Google is enhancing safety towards 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 person security by having the instrument to detect extra kinds of fraud, together with crypto, present 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 individual on the opposite finish is the supposed receiver. Customers can confirm their contacts by having them scan a QR code or match numbers displayed on the display screen.
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 via 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 will probably be out there for Google Messages later this summer time for customers working Android 10 or later variations.
Theft safety measures
Earlier this 12 months, Google rolled out Identification Examine safety to Pixel and Samsung gadgets with OneUI 7. The function requires customers to make use of biometric authentication to vary essential settings like altering your machine PIN or biometrics, disabling theft safety, or accessing Passkeys when the person shouldn’t be at one of many trusted areas they’ve added. The corporate is now making this function out there to different machine makers with Android 16.
Later this 12 months, Google will add higher safety for Manufacturing facility Reset, limiting all types of capabilities on the machine which can be reset with out authorization of the earlier lock sample/PIN or Google account credentials. This basically makes a stolen machine exhausting to make use of.
To forestall somebody from locking your machine remotely, the corporate is including a security problem query to forestall unauthorized entry. With Android 16, the corporate will even cover one-time passwords if the machine shouldn’t be related to Wi-Fi and hasn’t been unlocked not too long ago.
Further protections
The corporate is including new options to its Google Play Shield dwell detection program as nicely, by detecting unsafe apps which have hidden or modified icons. This function will probably be out there within the coming months for customers working Android 6 and later variations. The corporate 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 Superior Safety Mode, to guard public figures with new on-device options. The corporate can also be debuting a brand new Discover My Hub to maintain observe of things, buddies, and household.
Try methods to watch the livestream and extra from Google I/O.
