Google has taken a significant step in enhancing Android security with the rollout of its Play Protect service's live threat detection feature. This update, announced at Google I/O earlier this year, is now available to Pixel 6 and newer phones, with a broader rollout to other Android devices expected in the coming months.

The live threat detection feature targets hard-to-spot malware apps that hide their intentions well, scanning apps for suspicious behavior in real-time. This proactive approach enables the detection of malware that remains dormant at first and later engages in malicious activity. The detection process takes place on-device, ensuring user data security through the use of Android's Private Compute Core.

In addition to live threat detection, Google is also introducing scam call detection, which uses on-device AI to analyze phone calls and identify signs of scam attempts. This feature is currently available to beta program members with a Pixel 6 or later, with a wider rollout planned for the future. These security enhancements demonstrate Google's commitment to protecting Android users from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.