Google Messages Rolls Out ‘Enhanced Protection Mode’ to Fight Scams

On Wednesday, October 14, 2026 (local time), Google announced the rollout of new anti-scam features, including a new setting called “Enhanced protection mode” coming to “Google Messages,” the SMS, MMS, and RCS client app for Android devices.

The “Google Messages” app has previously used its “Scam Detection” feature to spot conventional scam messages and conversational scams involving multi-step interactions. However, scam tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated year by year, and an increasing number of cases are slipping past standard scam detection.

The “Enhanced protection mode” rolling out to the “Google Messages” app is an optional setting that bundles together multiple anti-scam features to combat these sophisticated tactics. These three anti-scam features are: enhanced scam detection via the “Private AI Compute” app, link safety checks via “Gemini Nano,” and warnings for links received from numbers not saved in your contacts. “Enhanced protection mode” will be rolling out to the “Google Messages” app over the coming weeks.

Google also announced three additional anti-scam features rolling out for Android: expanded device support for chat notification scam detection, automatic privacy protection during screen sharing, and call-forwarding protection.

“Enhanced protection mode” in “Google Messages”

The “Enhanced protection mode” rolling out to the “Google Messages” app includes a total of three features: enhanced scam detection via the “Private AI Compute” app, link safety checks via “Gemini Nano,” and warnings for links received from numbers not saved in your contacts.

Enhanced Scam Detection via the “Private AI Compute” App

Scammers sometimes take their time building conversations over extended periods to conceal their true intentions.

When “Enhanced protection mode” is enabled, scam detection for interactions with numbers not saved in your contacts uses high-performance “Gemini” models in the cloud to analyze the context of messages, helping to spot fraudulent intent much earlier. Cloud-based analysis complements the existing on-device scam detection, making it possible to catch newer and more sophisticated tactics.

This cloud analysis takes place on the “Private AI Compute” app. “Private AI Compute” is Google’s system that leverages high-performance AI models in the cloud while processing data in an encrypted, isolated environment where no one—not even Google—can access your data except you.

Enhanced scam detection via the “Private AI Compute” app will roll out to Google Pixel devices starting from the Pixel 6, as well as Android devices that support the “Android AICore” app.

Link Safety Checks via “Gemini Nano”

The “Google Messages” app has traditionally displayed warnings for links pointing to known malicious or phishing sites.

However, scammers frequently use newly registered sites that have not yet been flagged as dangerous. By enabling “Enhanced protection mode,” Gemini Nano—Google’s lightweight AI model running locally on your device—uses real-time web information to check whether links to these new sites are safe before you tap them.

Link safety checks via “Gemini Nano” will roll out to Google Pixel devices starting from the Pixel 10 and newer.

Warnings for Links Received from Unsaved Numbers

When you enable “Enhanced protection mode” in the “Google Messages” app, a redesigned warning screen will appear whenever you tap a link received from a number not saved in your contacts.

This warning screen provides clear, easy-to-understand explanations to help you pause and think before opening a link, preventing accidental openings. Previously, this warning screen was only available to users of “Advanced Protection,” but it will now become available on Android devices running Android 6 and up by simply turning on “Enhanced protection mode.”

Anti-Scam Features for Android

A new set of anti-scam features is rolling out to Android, including expanded device support for chat notification scam detection, automatic privacy protection during screen sharing, and call-forwarding protection.

Expanded Device Support for “Message Scam Detection”

“Message Scam Detection” is a feature that warns users about suspicious messages received in popular chat apps directly from the notification shade, before the app is even opened.

Initially rolled out for the “Google Messages” app on Google Pixel devices, support is now expanding to more apps and, crucially, to more devices.

Google is collaborating with Android device manufacturers—including HONOR, Infinix, iQOO, itel, JOVI, Motorola, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, TECNO, vivo, and Xiaomi—to expand “Message Scam Detection” to more devices within the year.

Automatic Privacy Protection During Screen Sharing

Android has long automatically hidden personal information within Android apps while screen sharing is active.

This protection is now being expanded to the Android version of the “Chrome” app and “Android System WebView,” the system component used to display web pages inside apps. During screen sharing, login input fields and payment screens will be automatically hidden, eliminating the worry of having sensitive moments—such as entering passwords or credit card security codes—exposed to viewers.

This automatic privacy protection during screen sharing in the Android “Chrome” app and “Android System WebView” will roll out gradually starting in October 2026 for Android devices running Android 15 and up.

Call-Forwarding Protection

Scammers sometimes attempt to secretly forward incoming calls to another number in order to steal One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and take over accounts.

To prevent this, call-forwarding protection blocks apps from enabling call forwarding surreptitiously in the background. Furthermore, if you are tricked by a scammer into dialing an MMI code from your phone’s dialer to set up call forwarding, Android will display a warning before the setting takes effect.

Call-forwarding protection will become available on Google Pixel devices starting in early December 2026.

Countermeasures Against Bank Impersonation Calls

Google has also shared the performance results of bank impersonation call protections that Android already provides.

Partnering with banks such as “Banco do Brasil” and “Itaú Unibanco,” Android provides a feature that verifies phone calls from financial institutions. Working alongside official banking apps, it checks in real-time whether an incoming call is genuinely from the bank; if it cannot be verified, the call is disconnected and the user is warned.

Since its launch in June 2026, over 3 million calls spoofing “Banco do Brasil” and “Itaú Unibanco” numbers have been blocked. This feature has also been extended to customers of other financial institutions like “Revolut,” with further partnerships planned for the future.

“Google Messages” App Link

Source: Google (https://blog.google/security/new-android-scam-protections/)