May 14, 2025
Tech News
Google has unveiled a suite of new security features for Android aimed at protecting users against scams and theft. These features enhance call, screen sharing, and message security, with a focus on preventing users from falling victim to malicious activities while using their devices.
Among the updates is a protection against phone scammers during calls, which blocks harmful actions and warns users if they are being scammed. Furthermore, Google is preventing Android users from disabling essential security features like Google Play Protect, enhancing overall device safety.
Additionally, Google is ramping up its scam protection in Google Messages. This on-device AI tool now identifies various fraud types, including financial impersonation and misleading billing requests, providing users with alerts during conversations that may indicate deceptive intentions.
As part of improved theft protection, Google has made Identity Check mandatory on Pixel and Samsung devices. This requires biometric authentication to change vital settings and ensures that unauthorized users cannot easily access critical features, enhancing the security of users’ personal data.
Moreover, Google plans to enhance its Factory Reset protections to prevent unauthorized resets and remote locking of devices. Users will be challenged with security questions when attempting to access locked devices, significantly raising the bar against potential misuse.
In the realm of electric vehicles, Charge+ and EV Edaran are collaborating to develop an extensive EV charging network across Sabah. This initiative comes as the region currently lacks adequate charging infrastructure, with only 26 charging bays available as of December 2024.
The partnership aims to install numerous charging stations across key locations in Sabah, including Kota Kinabalu, Semporna, and others. The goal is to support Malaysia’s broader initiative to establish a robust charging network with 10,000 points nationwide by the end of 2025.
In other news, Microsoft is reportedly reducing its workforce by 3%, impacting over 6,500 employees. This decision follows a strong revenue report but hints at ongoing organizational changes in response to a competitive market landscape, mirroring recent layoffs across major tech firms.
While these layoffs are not performance-based, they point to a larger trend of workforce reductions in the tech industry, which has seen major companies like Amazon and Meta also execute significant job cuts in recent months.
Tech Explained
Android – Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google, primarily for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets. It offers a rich application development environment and is widely used across various devices, allowing for a highly customizable user experience.
Google Play Protect – Google Play Protect is a built-in security feature for Android devices. It scans apps and device behavior to detect potentially harmful applications, offering users protection against malicious software and ensuring safer app installations while improving the overall security of the device.
Biometric Authentication – Biometric authentication uses unique biological traits—such as fingerprints or facial recognition—to verify the identity of users. This security measure improves device protection by making unauthorized access significantly more difficult, especially when combined with other security features.
Electric Vehicle (EV) – Electric vehicles are powered by electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. They are viewed as a more sustainable alternative to gasoline vehicles, and the need for a comprehensive charging infrastructure like that being developed in Sabah is critical for their widespread adoption.
Workforce Reductions – Workforce reductions refer to the process where companies reduce their number of employees as part of a restructuring plan, often due to financial pressures or changes in business strategy. These layoffs can impact morale, operational efficiency, and overall company culture.
