Tech Desk 
Nov 15, 2024
Google is set to enhance its malware detection with new protections developed to identify malicious apps. Google Play Protect service is said to receive an update called live threat detection which detects potentially harmful apps on your phone by analysing app behaviour and alerts you in real-time.
Initially, this update was announced at Google I/O and is available now to Pixel 6 and newer phones. It should come to additional non-Pixel Android phones from Lenovo, OnePlus, Nothing, and Oppo, among others “in the coming months.”
What Live threat detection do?
Live threat detection targets especially hard-to-spot malware apps that hide their intentions. Instead of just scanning apps for malicious code when you install them, Play Protect will keep looking for signs of suspicious app behaviour even after they’re on your phone.
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This can help it detect malware that remains dormant at first and later starts engaging in malicious activity.
Meanwhile, Google has rolled out another security feature — scam call detection. This feature utilises on-device artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse phone calls and seek signs that the caller is a scammer.
If it detects suspicious conversational patterns or requests typical of scam attempts, it will flag the user and encourage them to end the call. Notably, it’s only available to members of the Phone by Google app’s beta program with a Pixel 6 or later currently.
