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Spam texts could be a thing of the past for Google Voice users
You'll now get suspected spam warnings for SMS messages
From its inception, Google Voice has positioned itself as an advantageous Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service that effortlessly connects users over the internet. The service, essentially free with a US number and Google account, worked well but had largely remained devoid of significant user-centric updates until recently. In March 2023, it incorporated a touch of Material You design for a sleeker user interface. Going back a little further, December 2022 heralded the enhancement of call safety with warnings for spam calls, and now that feature appears to be extending to SMS messages sent to your Google Voice number.
As smartphone and internet usage continue to grow, so do the annoying spam calls that come with it. Aside from the inconvenience, these spam calls are tools for aggressive targeting and scam attempts. Despite efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and mobile carriers, you can take steps to safeguard yourself. Start by activating the built-in spam filter on your budget Android phone or high-end Android device. You can also use the blocking tool offered by your mobile carrier or a third-party solution. Keep reading to find out all the options available and how to use them.
You don't have to look far to be able to find something in the news worth feeling incredibly frustrated about, and earlier this summer we caught wind of one particularly egregious-sounding project Google was cooking up. While millions of us rely on Gmail's generally excellent spam filters to keep our inboxes free from distraction, Google decided that it wasn't actually comfortable with how good Gmail's filters had gotten at blocking political spam en masse, and shared a system that would whitelist political bulk senders, ensuring their messages got through. After getting the FEC's nod of approval, that system is finally set to begin testing this week.
Spam isn't just the bane of your personal email — if anything, it's even more aggressive about weaseling its way into work inboxes. While many spam messages are easy to spot immediately, bad actors still try to use clever lures, including attempts to make the recipient believe emails are from someone familiar, like a co-worker or friend. In its endless uphill battle against spam, Google has added a feature to Workspace that will help ensure we all waste a little less time trying to figure out if the messages we receive are the real deal.
Everyone please copy Verizon's latest spam call fighting tool immediately
The ability to block calls based on area code alone is a feature that's long overdue
I've had the same phone number since Google Voice launched back when I was in college, over a decade ago. I've moved (lemme think) seven times since then, and not a single person I still know is calling me from the Bryan-College Station area. So when spammers copy my area code in a lame attempt at engagement, I only answer the phone if I'm in the mood to waste time and mess with some criminals.
Read update
Yesterday, Google opened the doors to a new beta channel for its Phone app. For those joining the beta releases, there's already a fresh update to v19 waiting for them to play with. There are a lot of changes coming through in this round, including some updates to the UI, an option to filter spam calls, and much more. If you want to get your hands on the latest version, but aren't quite ready to join the beta, grab the apk from the APK Mirror link below.
An interesting new version of the Project Fi app began rolling out yesterday. There's a big change to the version number, but otherwise, nothing special to see in the app. However, a teardown of the resources reveals some important changes are scheduled to arrive. The biggest addition will be spam filtering, which should remove all of the disturbances caused by annoying telemarketers and scammers. Also in line are notifications when your data usage suddenly skyrockets, and an in-app feature to turn off Bill Protection once your data is throttled.
No one likes spam calls, and Google knows that. You may recall that last year, Google added a warning in the Phone app for when a suspected spam caller was ringing. Now the company is bringing that same feature to Google Voice.