Google Announces New Scam Protection Tools

Google announced new scam protection tools across its digital ecosystem, from Android to its online accounts.

“Widespread access to cutting-edge technology is making scams more convincing and nefarious than ever before,” Google’s Eugene Liderman and John Gronberg write in the announcement post. “Just a few years ago, spotting a phishing email meant looking out for tell-tale signs like grammatical errors or strange attachments. Today, people are routinely encountering elaborate phishing attempts that use techniques like voice cloning, deepfakes and social engineering for convincing impersonations.”

To counter these issues, Google has announced the following:

Google Messages improvements. The Android messaging app is gaining two anti-scam tools, a warning when there is a suspected malicious link in a text message and a new Key Verifier tool that lets you verify trusted contacts with a QR code so you can ensure that conversations are protected by end-to-end encryption. Both are available immediately, though Key Verifier requires Android 10 or newer.

New account recovery tools. A new Recovery Contacts feature lets you designate trusted friends or family members as recovery contacts who can help verify your identity and recover your Google account if you get locked out. And you can now recover your Google account using your phone number: Just sign-in using that number and the lock screen passcode from a previous device, no password required.

Be Scam Ready. This web-based, hands-on game lets you experience the tactics scammers use so you can see how you would handle the real thing.

Google notes that you can also find additional security resources at its Safety Center website.