- Google Messages rolled out two new security tools to prevent fraudulent links
- One of them is the new Key Verifier tool, which the company first revealed in May.
- Google Messages also has a new scam alert, which will appear in a chat if it suspects dangerous links
Google Messages has undergone a considerable overhaul over the past couple of months, and the company is now doubling down on its security measures with two new protection upgrades.
Features include the new Key Verifier tool and fraudulent link alerts, and both are now live. Scam alerts will appear for all Google Messages users; However, Key Verifier is only available to those using Android 10 and above, and there are plans to roll out more protections based on the new feature.
In its official announcement, Google addressed the growing risks of online fraud and scams, triggering the strengthening of the company’s security measures, sharing the following:
“Nearly 60% of people worldwide have been victims of a scam in the last year. Yet while increased connectivity has certainly fueled this increase in scams, the most important change is this: widespread access to cutting-edge technology makes scams more convincing and more harmful than ever before. So how do his new protections prevent this?
The more notable of the two is the new Key Verifier, which was initially revealed in May and more details last August.
It’s designed to “add an extra layer of trust” to your private one-on-one RCS chats and involves scanning a QR code for your contacts, ensuring that the messages you receive are actually from the person you think is on the other end of the line.
To access Key Verifier, open a one-on-one chat and tap the contact name at the top. Scroll down and select “Check keys,” then “Scan contact QR code.” You should also note that the person on the other end will also have to do the same on their own device.
The second new security measure is Fraudulent Link Detection, which targets links that might be sent to you to steal personal information. If you receive a link that Google Messages thinks might be dangerous, a warning pop-up will appear to highlight suspicious messages.
“We are continually innovating and rolling out new security features built into our products,” Google reiterated in its announcement, adding that “these features and initiatives are designed to help you avoid scams altogether or spot them before they cause harm.” With this in mind, it is likely that Google will expand its protection tools in the future.
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