Google Messages adds a stronger shield against scam texts

Google Messages for Android is rolling out Enhanced Protection, an opt-in setting built to catch scam texts that older filters can miss. 9to5Google spotted it in the latest beta of the app.

What it does

Until now, Messages offered Standard Protection, which blocks spam and suspected harmful links. Enhanced Protection adds what Google calls advanced detection. It launches with three features.

• Scam Detection uses Google's cloud Gemini AI models to read a chat with an unknown sender and spot a scammer's intent.
• Link checks use the Gemini Nano model on the phone, plus real-time web signals, to judge an unfamiliar link before you tap.
• Redesigned warnings give you more time and context to pause before tapping links from numbers not in your contacts.

Google says the cloud approach is better than the current on-device detection at finding new and sophisticated attacks. Messages are processed through Android's Private AI Compute feature, which Google says keeps them private to you and not available to anyone else, including Google.

Who gets it and how to turn it on

The link checks work only on the Pixel 10 or newer, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, the Z Flip 8, the Z Fold 8 and other select devices. The material does not say whether the other features have device limits. To try it, open Messages settings, then Protection & safety. Instead of a simple on/off switch, you will see three options. The material does not name them, give a price or say when everyone will get the update.