Is Google copying Microsoft’s security playbook? Chrome might get a new AI-powered tool to detect scams

As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but appreciate the continuous efforts made by industry giants like Google and Microsoft to enhance user security. The integration of AI-powered scam detection features in both Chrome and Edge is a testament to their commitment towards protecting users from sophisticated online threats.

Google Chrome is planning to introduce a new AI-driven feature aimed at safeguarding users from advanced tricks and frauds designed by malicious individuals. As per Leo Varela on X (previously Twitter), the most recent Google Chrome Canary version now includes a novel “Client Side Detection for Brand and Scam Identification” function (via Neowin).

According to the explanation, this flag activates on-device Language Model (LLM) results on pages that help identify the brand and purpose of the page. By using an on-device LLM, Google helps safeguard users from potential security leaks. This feature prevents user credentials from being transmitted to the cloud or utilized for training Google’s artificial intelligence models.

It appears that Google is taking a cue from Microsoft’s security strategy. Recently, a “scareware blocker” was found in Microsoft Edge’s Settings by Leo Varela. This feature, which uses artificial intelligence to detect fraudulent tech schemes, has been reported by Varela. By default, it’s not activated, so users will need to adjust their settings to turn it on.

It’s not really unexpected that Microsoft is incorporating enhanced security elements throughout its technology infrastructure, given the series of security issues they’ve faced in recent times. For instance, they were targeted by the Russian hacker group Nobelium, a breach which enabled them to penetrate the email accounts of some Microsoft executives.

During the FY24 Q3 earnings call, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, emphasized that security is the foundation of every technology layer for the company. He underscored that ensuring security takes precedence over any other feature or investment they make. In simpler terms, they are significantly focusing on improving security, making it their topmost priority.

It’s intriguing to explore how Microsoft and Google will utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prevent fraudulent activities as users navigate, all while ensuring that their tools do not store or employ user data in the cloud for training purposes.

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2024-12-19 21:40