Android 16 to protect users from scammers during calls

Scammers are getting smarter with new AI tools that make their tricks sound more real. They often try to get you to send them money or share your private details by convincing you to change settings on your phone. But with Android 16, Google is introducing a new way to keep you safe.

Imagine you’re on a call, and someone tells you to install an app or change a setting on your phone. Normally, this could be dangerous, especially if it’s from someone you don’t trust. Android 16 will stop you from making these changes while you’re on a phone call. This is especially true for adding apps from outside the official store, which can be risky.

When you try to install an app from an unknown source during a call, Android 16 will not let you. It’s like a safety lock that only opens when the call ends. This makes it harder for scammers to trick you into installing harmful software.

But what if you already have this setting on or if the app is in the Google Play Store? Android 16 also won’t let you give apps special permissions like reading your screen or doing things for you automatically while you’re on a call. This is because these permissions can be very powerful and could be misused.

If you try to make these changes, your phone will show a message saying, “Can’t complete action during call.” It’s a reminder to be careful when someone on the phone asks you to do something with your phone settings.

These protective measures aren’t fully turned on yet in the Android 16 test versions, but they should be ready by the time Android 16 officially comes out. They are an improvement on an earlier feature from Android 15 that also aimed to keep your phone safer. This new feature is a big step in fighting against phone scams, helping to keep your information secure when you’re most vulnerable – during a call.