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What you need to know

• Google has been spotted developing a new feature through Play Services called “Protected Email”.

• The feature is supposed to allow users to create a “fake” “generated” email for applications that may require one to avoid potential risks online.

• Google has stepped up its fight against spam/phishing attempts by rolling out verified brands in Gmail and strengthening it with a new spam detector.

Google is reportedly developing an email protection feature that echoes what Apple did for iOS.

The well-known X tipster AssembleDebug (Android Authority) dove into the latest version of Play Services (v24.45.33) and found support for a new feature. The strings in the code suggest that Google is working on a “generated email address” tool under the moniker “Email Shield.”

Other channels give us an idea of ​​how this might work, as it is claimed that users can generate an email “created for this app.” The company’s first description reads: “it can protect you from online tracking and data breaches.”

Another set of strings highlights “email forwarding.” This generated appearance will apparently allow users to forward received emails to their real address. There is a space in the code for users to enter their real email when the time comes. Additionally, Google is working on an option that allows users to unsubscribe if things turn spammy.

Additional descriptors show that Google intends for this feature to maintain user email privacy. The post states that these generated emails will be “single-use” or “limited-use” aliases. The recent version of Play Services is notably lacking in places where Google could implement this feature.

The post says that digging deeper into the APK suggests that Google is considering integrating Protected Email directly into apps that might request your email.

Despite the uncertainty of its rollout, the feature reportedly appeared on the autofill settings page. However, the tipster notes that mining it doesn’t offer much since it’s still under development, but it could indicate a start that will happen sooner, not later.

Google has constantly intensified its fight against spam while Gmail has detected a new spam detector. The company has implemented a new text vector called “RETVec”. Research showed that it improved the app’s spam detection by about 38% and reduced false positives by about 20%. In short, RETVec would scan an incoming email with a keen eye for the symbols used to eliminate potential spam.

Likewise, Gmail received blue check markspart of the BIMI authentication system. The purpose of brands is to give users quick and direct confirmation of the legitimacy of an email. If a sender is who they say they are, they will show a blue checkmark next to their logo/name. Of course, this applies to official companies to help users avoid dangerous phishing attempts.