Android’s new feature can save users from phishing and malware

Google is launching a new thing called Android Safe Browsing on Android phones. It’s meant to warn you about sketchy links and websites in certain apps. Android expert Mishaal Rahman noticed that some Android phones are showing a new Safe Browsing page. It shows which apps have the feature and how it can protect you from things like phishing and malware.

Google says that if you click on a link in a news app that’s known to be sketchy, you might get a warning. It’ll tell you about the risks before you open the link, so you can decide if it’s safe.

The feature also includes “live threat protection” which Google claims provides “more accurate threat detection.” It’s unclear if this is turned on by default or if it will need to be enabled by users. Google says that if you click on a link in a news app that’s known to be sketchy, you might get a warning. It’ll tell you about the risks before you open the link, so you can decide if it’s safe.

Android Police reports that apps using the Google SafetyNet Safe Browsing API can also help save battery and reduce data usage on Android devices. They can also help prevent rogue apps and websites from messing with our phones. The Android Safe Browsing features are meant to keep us safe from malware and phishing. These threats can come from third-party websites, emails, texts, or downloading apps we don’t know much about.

You don’t have to download anything extra to get this feature. It’s included in Google Play Services, so you’ll get it when you update that through the Google Play Store. Right now, it’s only been spotted on Pixel and Samsung phones, but it should be available on all supported Android devices eventually.

Even though the feature is just starting to come out, Nail Sadykov from the Google News Telegram channel spotted it in a beta version of Google Play Services back in October 2023.

Mishaal Rahman thinks Google will give us more details about the update once more people have it. But if you’ve already got it, you can find it on Pixel devices by going to Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy. On Samsung Galaxy devices, it’s under Settings > Security & Privacy.