- Google is working on a new security feature for Android that blocks you from changing certain sensitive settings during phone calls.
- These sensitive settings include allowing apps to install other apps (i.e. sideloading) and allowing accessibility access.
- Scammers are known to request these kinds of changes during phone calls, which is why Android is going to block them.
There’s a wide variety of phone scams that you need to be aware of, and with the advent of AI speech tools, these scams will only become more convincing. Scammers will employ all sorts of psychological tricks to get you to send them money or give them access to your online accounts, and unfortunately, many people fall victim to these scams every day. To combat these scammers, Google is working on a new security feature for Android 16 that blocks you from changing certain sensitive settings during phone calls. This will hopefully make it harder for scammers to succeed and make people think twice before installing or enabling malicious software.
When a phone scammer finds a potential victim, they look for ways they can get the victim to send them money or personal data. Often, this involves tricking them into installing malware and then granting it access to sensitive permissions like accessibility access. The average person probably doesn’t know how to sideload apps on Android, though, which is why the scammer stays on the line to guide them through the process.