Pixel Phones Get Real-Time Scam and Threat Protection Updates

Google has started rolling out a cool new feature called Scam Detection for Pixel phones. This neat trick listens to phone calls and keeps an eye out for common patterns used by scammers. When it spots something fishy, it gives you a heads-up with a warning and a handy "End call" button. On the Pixel 9, this is powered by something called Gemini Nano, while other Pixel models use some clever on-device learning models. Don't worry about privacy, Google says no audio or transcript is saved or sent anywhere. You have to turn it on first, though, and can turn it off whenever you want.

This scam-busting feature arrives just in time for English-speaking beta users in the U. S. with a Pixel 6 or newer. To turn it on, dive into the Phone app settings and look for Scam Detection. Want to share your thoughts? You can send feedback through the app's menu. Plus, Google is beefing up its security game with Play Protect's live threat detection. This feature can now spot sneaky apps that try to hide their bad behavior, especially those used for stalking. It's live on the Pixel 6+ and coming to other phone makers soon. All powered by Private Compute Core for extra safety.

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