FTC reports that consumers lost over $158.3 billion to scams in 2023. Alarmingly, more than half of all adults (almost 60%) globally have fallen victim to a scam, as per the Global Anti-Scam Alliance. It is evidently a burgeoning issue. It is strongly advised to take precautions to safeguard yourself, such as familiarizing yourself with certain actions to avoid on your Android phone, or activating Advanced Protection, Android’s robust security feature found in settings. On a brighter note, as one might expect, Google has introduced additional safeguards to Android to assist you in warding off potential scams and fraudulent activities. This includes Safer Links in Google Messages, which comes with updated alerts, and a new key verifier tool that aids in confirming the identity of your contacts. Furthermore, enhanced account recovery tools, such as designated recovery contacts and the option to retrieve account access via your mobile number, bolster Google Account recovery support features.
The Safer Links functionality in Google Messages alerts you when the system suspects a scam might be occurring by warning you about suspicious links. It will even prevent you from accessing potentially harmful websites unless you explicitly label the message as “not spam.” This significantly reduces the likelihood of inadvertently clicking on harmful links, even from trusted contacts. This is crucial since scammers frequently exploit text messages and disguise harmful URLs through phishing attempts made to appear legitimate. The Key Verifier tool lets you scan a QR code for trusted contacts to authenticate message encryption keys, allowing you to verify if your contact is indeed who they claim to be.
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