Google Introduces 3 Fresh Ways To Defend You Against Fraud

Almost 60% of people worldwide have been targeted by a scam in the past year. While greater connectivity has certainly contributed to this rise, the bigger change is this: easy access to advanced technology is making scams more believable and more harmful than ever. Not long ago, recognizing a phishing email was as simple as watching for obvious clues such as bad grammar or unusual attachments.

These days, people frequently face sophisticated phishing attacks that rely on methods such as voice cloning, deepfakes, and social engineering to create highly convincing impersonations. That’s why we constantly develop and release new security features that are seamlessly built into our products. In a world where harmful content looks nearly identical to the real thing, these tools and initiatives are created to help you completely avoid scams or recognize them before they do any damage.

New security features in Google Messages

1. Google Messages now includes safer link protection: Scammers frequently use text messages to send harmful links meant to steal your personal information. Now, when Google Messages detects that a message might be spam, it will alert you before you open any links and block you from accessing the potentially dangerous site unless you manually label the message as “not spam.” This protection is now available to all Google Messages users worldwide.
2. Key Verifier is now supported in Google Messages: Android’s new Key Verifier feature adds an extra layer of security to your private chats by protecting Google Messages users from impostors and scammers. It functions by letting you scan a QR code for trusted contacts, giving you added confidence that your end-to-end encrypted messages are genuinely private and reaching the correct person. Key Verifier is now accessible to all users on Android 10 and above, and we’ll continue introducing additional protections based on it to keep you safe from scams and fraud.
3. You now have the option to set up Recovery Contacts: Today, we’re launching Recovery Contacts a new security feature for eligible personal Google Accounts that lets you choose trusted friends or family members to serve as your Recovery Contacts. If you get locked out because you forgot your password, lost your passkey device, or your account was compromised, these contacts can help confirm your identity, giving you a simple and secure way to regain access when regular recovery options don’t work. You can find Recovery Contacts in the Security section of your Google Account, which has been newly redesigned to make it easier to manage your personal information.