Google Messages Could Show a New Pop-Up Warning When Users Click on Links From Unknown Senders: Report

The reported Google Messages feature can offer added protection from URL phishing-related scams.

Written by Akash Dutta, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 9 April 2024 19:21 IST

Google Messages Could Show a New Pop-Up Warning When Users Click on Links From Unknown Senders: Report

Photo Credit: Google

Currently, Google Messages shows a basic warning message when clicking on a link from an unknown sender

Highlights

The warning is said to appear only for numbers not saved in Contacts
Users will reportedly have to tick a box before accessing the URL
The pop-up message also shows a warning for harmful content

Google is reportedly working on a new warning message for Google Messages that can prevent users from falling for a phishing scam or unknowingly installing malware on their devices. This feature will be triggered whenever the user clicks on a link sent by a number not saved in the Contacts. The new warning message is said to require users to take an extra step to tick a box containing a warning message before continuing to the website. Notably, a recent report revealed that Google Messages' under-development satellite messaging feature could offer two-way communication.

According to a report by PiunikaWeb (via tipster AssembleDebug), the feature was spotted with the Google Messages app in RCS chats. While Google Messages does already show a warning text when clicking on URLs sent by unknown numbers, it is a simple “Do you trust the Sender” warning where users can click on continue and open the link. The new pop-up warning comes with a two-step process which could be designed to help users pause before they decide whether they want to continue or not.

Google Messages to soon show a warning when you tap on links sent by RCS users who aren't in your contacts

Read - https://t.co/GqEmrb7wUD

This one makes you tick the box before you continue. ☠️#Google #Android pic.twitter.com/swaBSYw9B5
— AssembleDebug (@AssembleDebug) April 8, 2024

Based on the screenshots shared by the tipster, the new warning is labelled more explicitly and says, “Caution: this sender isn't one of your contacts”, and adds the message, “Links from people that you don't know may open unwanted and harmful content”. In case the user still wants to continue, they will have to tick a box which states “I understand this link may be harmful”. If the user decides not to open the link, they can tap on the ‘Cancel' button.

As the feature itself was found in RCS mode, it likely works for standard SMS as well. A comment posted on AssembleDebug's post on X (formerly known as Twitter) confirmed that warning appeared even when clicked on a link sent by the user's bank. The feature is expected to soon roll out to Android users globally.

This warning could potentially save a lot of people from falling for phishing scams. For the unversed, a phishing scam is a type of online scam where the attacker impersonates as a familiar person to the victim or as a representative of an institution and asks the user to click on a link. The website corresponding to the link often resembles a legitimate website and asks the user to sign in. But once the account id and password are entered, it is delivered to the scammers, who can then use it to access the accounts themselves.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Google Messages, Google, Android

Akash Dutta Email Akash Dutta

Akash Dutta is a Senior Sub Editor at Gadgets 360. He is particularly interested in the social impact of technological developments and loves reading about emerging fields such as AI, metaverse, and fediverse. In his free time, he can be seen supporting his favourite football club - Chelsea, watching movies and anime, and sharing passionate opinions on food. More