Google has unveiled new AI-driven security measures to tackle online scams within its Chrome browser. On Thursday, the company announced that it will deploy Gemini Nano, a sophisticated on-device large language model (LLM), on desktops to enhance user protection against scams. Additionally, Chrome on Android will feature AI-enhanced warnings to inform users about potentially spammy notifications.
The Enhanced Protection mode in Chrome’s Safe Browsing feature provides the highest level of safeguarding, doubling the protection against phishing and other online threats compared to the Standard Protection mode. With the introduction of Gemini Nano, users in Enhanced Protection mode will benefit from an extra layer of defence specifically designed to thwart online scams.
Google highlights that this on-device approach will deliver immediate, real-time insights about risky websites, thereby shielding users from scams, including those that may be newly crafted. According to Google, “Gemini Nano’s LLM is ideally suited for this endeavour, as it can distil the complex nature of websites, enabling us to swiftly adapt to emerging scam tactics.”
The tech giant is already employing this AI technology to protect users from questionable tech support claims, with plans to extend similar protective measures to Android devices and an expanded range of scams in the future.
In conjunction with Gemini Nano, Google is launching AI-powered warnings for Chrome on Android. Given that the risks from dubious sites can extend to notifications, malicious websites might exploit these to deceive users. As such, Chrome will now alert users to potentially scammy, misleading, or spam notifications. When a notification is flagged by Chrome’s on-device model, users will receive a warning, allowing them to either unsubscribe from the notifications or view the blocked content. If users feel a warning is unwarranted, they have the option to permit all future notifications from that site.
Moreover, Google revealed that its AI technology has been actively combating scams in its Search feature, identifying and blocking hundreds of millions of fraudulent results daily. Their AI systems have proven to be significantly effective, capturing 20 times the number of fraudulent pages. For instance, Google has witnessed an uptick in scammers impersonating airline customer service representatives, yet through its efforts, it has managed to reduce these scams by over 80%, minimising users’ exposure to deceptive phone numbers within Search results.
In summary, Google’s recent initiatives using AI in Chrome aim to bolster user security against scams, enhancing the browsing experience while addressing the persistent threat of online fraud.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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