Google Messages adds new scam defense for Android users

Google has begun deploying an Enhanced Protection mode for its Android Messages app to combat spam and fraudulent schemes. The update builds upon the existing Standard Protection feature, which already filters out known spam and harmful links. The new tier introduces advanced detection capabilities designed to identify complex threats more effectively.

The rollout follows an announcement made earlier in October. The system relies on cloud-based Gemini models to analyze the context of message threads, particularly those involving unknown senders. Google states that this method evaluates a scammer's intent more rapidly than the on-device detection previously used. To safeguard user data, the feature processes encrypted messages within Android's Private AI Compute system, a secure environment that Google describes as inaccessible to anyone else.

A second component of the update improves link verification. It combines the on-device Gemini Nano model with real-time web signals to assess the safety of unfamiliar URLs before users tap them. This specific capability is currently available on the Pixel 10 and newer devices, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8, along with other select hardware.

The interface for security warnings has also been redesigned. When a link arrives from an unsaved number, the new alerts provide users with additional context and time to review the message before opening it. Users can activate Enhanced Protection by navigating to the Protection and safety section within the app's settings. The menu now offers three distinct options: Enhanced protection, Standard protection, and No protection, which the app marks as not recommended.

The feature is currently available in the latest beta version of Google Messages, identified as build 20261020_00_RC00. The company is rolling out the update to users following the initial announcement.