Singapore – Aiming to curb scams in the country, Google has recently launched two new pilot Android features designed to protect users from mobile scams.
In this initiative, the company has partnered with Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), allowing Android users to block messages from unknown international numbers on Messages.
According to the firm, the new opt-in feature on Messages will provide users the option to block both SMS and RCS messages from abroad, reducing their exposure to potential scam messages and giving them greater peace of mind. Users will then be able to use this feature under ‘Protection & Safety’ settings within Messages.
Furthermore, Google Play Protect (GPP) will be further enhanced to prevent it from being disabled during active audio and video calls. Scammers often try to trick victims into disabling GPP during calls to bypass security measures and install malicious apps. This particular feature will help protect users from falling victim to this common scam tactic.
These enhancements will also be launched in Google Messages and Play Protect for Android devices in Singapore in the following months.
Eugene Liderman, director of Android security strategy at Google, said, “We’ve made significant strides in protecting people from scams, and we will continue introducing new features and mitigations to stay ahead of bad actors as they continuously evolve their tactics.”
“These two new features empower users to defend themselves and are critical steps in our ongoing commitment to enhancing security in the mobile ecosystem. Our collaboration with the Singapore government is invaluable, and we’re constantly exploring new product innovations to better protect Singaporeans and give them greater peace of mind,” he further explained.
