Google is launching a new feature called “Live Threat Detection” for phones, which helps spot malware (harmful software) in real-time. This feature is now available on Pixel 6 and newer models and will be coming soon to other brands like Samsung, OnePlus, and Oppo.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Live Threat Detection | Real-time malware detection and alerts, currently available on Pixel 6 and later, coming soon to OnePlus, Samsung, Oppo, and others |
| Focus | Initial focus on stalkerware detection, expanding to broader malware protection |
| Privacy Approach | Uses Private Compute Core for on-device processing, ensuring data privacy |
| Scam Detection | AI-powered alert system for identifying and notifying users of potential scams during calls |
| Activation | Scam Detection is off by default; users can enable it in Google Dialer settings |
The Live Threat Detection feature is part of Google Play Protect and keeps an eye on apps that may misuse permissions or interact with other apps in suspicious ways. It’s designed to catch apps that secretly collect sensitive data, such as stalkerware, and alert users in real-time to help them remove the harmful app. The tool runs on Google’s Private Compute Core, meaning it doesn’t send any personal data to Google’s servers, keeping user privacy intact.
Alongside this, Google has also introduced “Scam Detection,” an AI-powered feature that helps spot scams during calls. If someone calls pretending to be a bank official or uses other scam tactics, the feature detects suspicious patterns in the conversation and gives a warning through sound, vibration, and a visual alert. By default, Scam Detection is turned off, but users can turn it on in the settings if they want.
These tools, first announced at Google I/O, will help users stay safer from both malware and scams, with on-device processing so data stays private.
More from the official website Google