Samsung has announced a new feature to combat voice phishing scams, which have become increasingly sophisticated with the advancement of AI technology. This feature will be part of One UI 8 and aims to protect users from scams where the voice of a family member could be imitated by AI.
The new capability, named “Voice Phishing Suspected Call Alert,” will be integrated into the stable version of One UI 8 and is seen as an enhancement over the existing Smart Call feature. As detailed by Android Authority, the system will issue a warning when users make calls to unknown numbers that are not saved in their contact lists. When a call is placed, the phone will display a “detecting” warning, relying on data analysis from Korea’s National Police Agency and the National Institute of Scientific Investigation to flag potentially fraudulent calls.
However, there are notable limitations. The feature is initially available only in South Korea due to its reliance on the local authorities’ database. Additionally, it only functions for outgoing calls, leaving a significant vulnerability since many voice phishing attacks typically originate from incoming calls.
While this development marks a positive step for Samsung in addressing cybersecurity threats, the efficacy of the tool will depend on expanding its functionality to include protection against incoming calls and making it accessible to users globally.