Lately weโve become too reliant on messaging to connect with friends and family. This is partly due to our busy schedules, but thereโs a big issue with messaging: How can you be sure youโre talking to the person is really they are? Cโmon, weโve all heard stories of hacked accounts that fool people and scam them by asking for money.
Now Google is working on a solution to end this type of scam, as itโs rolling out a new Android System Key Verifier app to improve the security of your conversations in messaging apps. This app ensures that the person youโre talking to is actually who they claim to be โ something that could be incredibly helpful.
Android System Key Verifier will probably make people fall less for catfishing
Mishaal Rahman (via Android Authority) reports that the Android System Key Verifier builds on the Contacts Key feature introduced with Android 15, but itโs also compatible with devices running Android 10 or later. The app requires Google Play Services to function and may not necessarily need Android 15 to operate. While no apps currently fully use it, the appโs Play Store listing offers a glimpse of whatโs in works.
How does Android System Key Verified actually work?
The Android System Key Verifier uses end-to-end encryption to secure your messages. When you add a new contact, the app stores unique encryption keys for that contact on your phone. To verify each otherโs identity, both you and your contact exchange QR codes, scanning each otherโs code to link and confirm the connection.
If someone changes their phone or device, the encryption keys wonโt match, alerting you that the person youโre chatting with might not be the same one you originally added. In that case, you can simply scan the QR code again to update the encryption keys. This gives you the option to verify if someone is impersonating, which could help prevent falling for scams.
Additionally, Rahman dug into the *.apk file and found strings mentioning โalso compare the app-specific numbersโ instead of scanning a QR code. This suggests that QR codes could be accessed through the Google Contacts app by going to the Contacts settings and opening the โYour Infoโ page. While this feature isnโt live yet, it will be rolled out soon on Android, with Galaxy phones included, obviously.
