Scams have become a major concern in Malaysia, with the country having the highest rate of online fraud revictimization in Asia where victims are retargeted over 2.5 times on average.[1] Scammers are adopting increasingly sophisticated methods, such as phishing scams that trick victims into revealing personal information through malicious links. With the rapid evolution of these threats, protecting yourself has never been more important, and technology like the Samsung Galaxy A06 offers the tools you need to stay secure.

Advanced Security Features to Protect You

The Galaxy A06 is built with cutting-edge technology to guard against both hardware and software attacks, ensuring a safe and secure mobile experience.

One of its standout features is fingerprint authentication, which offers a simple yet highly secure way to protect your data. With your unique fingerprint as the key, your information remains exclusively yours, safeguarding against potential threats like APK attacks. This layer of security ties your data to your identity, ensuring unauthorized access is virtually impossible.

The device comes equipped with Samsung Knox Vault, a certified security system designed to protect your data against hardware attacks. Samsung Knox Vault uses tamper-resistant technology to defend against abnormal voltage, temperature fluctuations, laser interference, and other external threats. If an attack is detected, Knox Vault promptly blocks it, preventing further intrusion.

Additionally, Samsung Auto Blocker enhances device protection by preventing the installation of apps from unknown sources, even if accidentally approved, and blocking USB-based software updates to deter malicious software. It ensures only apps from trusted sources like the Galaxy Store or Play Store can be installed, issuing alerts for unauthorised attempts. Additionally, it safeguards against USB-based commands from potentially harmful devices and enables Samsung Message Guard to block malware-laden images in messaging apps, ensuring comprehensive protection against physical and digital threats.

As a proactive measure, the device also has Samsung Message Guard which isolates and decodes image files in a virtual quarantine, or “sandbox,” to neutralize hidden threats before they can harm your device. It processes image files in a controlled environment, preventing malicious code from accessing your phone’s files or operating system. Running silently in the background without user activation, it protects against zero-click exploits effortlessly. Complementing Samsung’s broader security measures, including the award-winning Samsung Knox, it enhances the comprehensive protection already provided across hardware and software layers with real-time threat detection.

Longevity Meets Security

Beyond safeguarding your data, the Galaxy A06 ensures the longevity of your device. It comes with two major OS upgrades and four years of security updates, allowing you to enjoy a secure and seamless experience for years to come.

Check out the great security features offered by the Samsung Galaxy A06 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1vZRwm63oU

Exclusive Promotion

Now is a great time to invest in your security. Until 31 December 2024, enjoy exclusive benefits with the purchase of the Samsung Galaxy A06.[2] Protect yourself and your loved ones while enjoying the reliability and security of a device built to defend against modern threats.

Take control of your security with the Samsung Galaxy A06—your partner in combating scams and safeguarding your digital life.

To buy the Galaxy A06, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/my/smartphones/galaxy-a/galaxy-a06-light-green-128gb-sm-a065flggxme/buy/

[1] Malaysia tops Asia in scam revictimisation rate | The Star

[2] While stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.

[3] While stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.

[4] While stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.

As an open ecosystem that empowers users to define their experience according to their priorities, Galaxy has always stood for choices. From a security and privacy perspective, I believe Galaxy has a duty to give users more say over how they are protected. Having options encourages you to think about what’s really right for you. That’s the philosophy behind Auto Blocker, introduced as part of One UI 6.

Auto Blocker is a package of additional security measures and the latest to join Galaxy’s stable of security and privacy innovations. Just as there is not one single type of cyber threat, there should never be just one approach to security. That’s why Auto Blocker’s safeguards are wide-ranging; it gives users more ways to stay safe, on their terms and with minimal effort.

Let me put it another way: Galaxy lets users set their own boundaries without building a wall around them.

Boundaries, Not Walls

One of Auto Blocker’s features is the ability to enable or disable sideloading. This is the act of installing an app that’s not available on official platforms, such as Google Play or Galaxy Store. Sideloading is hugely popular as there are many benefits for users, including enhanced customization and control over their device’s functionality.

There are entire online communities full of advice and testimonials, dedicated to safe and responsible sideloading, and to new ways of using Galaxy devices that open up exciting possibilities. For those who fully intend to sideload, they won’t notice any change with One UI 6 because Auto Blocker is off by default. Then, what’s the benefit of opting in?

We constantly look out for new threats, and it is increasingly common to see social engineering attacks like voice phishing. This is when an attacker doesn’t target a device, but targets users and aims for human error. For example, if someone called your mother pretending to be from the bank, and they scam her into installing malware. With Auto Blocker activated, such an attempt would be detected and stopped.

So, for those not in the habit of extensive device customizations, turning on Auto Blocker represents additional and effortless peace of mind. And those who love to customize are entirely unaffected. Not only is Galaxy an ecosystem that empowers informed choices, but it is also one that adapts to changes in the digital landscape. Galaxy means the freedom to set your own boundaries – and move them when you wish.

A Complete Package

The option to toggle sideloading is just one part of Auto Blocker, which is packed with other safeguards and effortlessly protects users in other likely scenarios.

Imagine you’re charging your smartphone at an airport or any other public space. Maybe you’re distracted and someone takes the opportunity to grab it, attempting to break into it via the USB port while the device is physically accessible to them. Fortunately, Auto Blocker prevents commands and installations via USB cable, which makes it tough for anyone to physically override your device’s security.

Auto Blocker assures users that they can safely use their favorite apps or try new ones. It turns on app security checks, which look out for potential malware.[1] It also opens up the Message Guard feature, which prevents Zero Click exploits to popular third-party messaging apps, including Messenger, Telegram, KakaoTalk and WhatsApp.

One Part of a Secure Ecosystem

Auto Blocker is just one of the many security innovations we’ve been working on. To further improve protection, we’ve updated the Security and Privacy Dashboard on Galaxy devices – so it’s easier for users to see and control what happens to their data.

We’re also bringing our strongest hardware-based security innovations to more devices with the expansion of Knox Vault to additional smartphone models and other non-mobile product categories. Looking ahead, we’ve updated Knox Matrix – our vision of a future where connected devices can protect one another. Furthermore, we’ve introduced an easier and more convenient way to log in to devices.

By offering more ways to be secure, in more places and on more devices, we’re providing users with greater convenience and greater choice in how to live their lives. Ultimately, isn’t that what everybody wants?

Click here for more on all of Samsung’s security innovations announced at SDC23.

[1] Currently not available on US carrier models.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today introduced Auto Blocker, a new security tool for Samsung Galaxy users designed to keep their devices protected in the way that best fits their lifestyle.

Recently released on One UI 6 as part of Samsung Galaxy’s expanded arsenal of security and privacy innovations, Auto Blocker is an opt-in package of additional security measures that gives users more choice as they explore the customizations enabled by Samsung Galaxy’s open ecosystem.

Putting the Choice in Users’ Hands

“At Samsung we constantly strive to keep our users safe from security attacks, and with the introduction of Auto Blocker users can continue to enjoy the benefits of our open ecosystem, knowing that their mobile experience is secured,” said Dr. Seungwon Shin, EVP & Head of Security Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We always seek to empower our users to choose for themselves what best suits their needs – rather than us deciding on their behalf, and Auto Blocker is no exception to that.”

One of Auto Blocker’s features is the prevention of app installations from unauthorized sources,[1] known as sideloading. There are many benefits to intentional sideloading, such as enhanced customization and control over a device’s functionality. Those who love to safely sideload will experience no change as the feature is off by default. For those not in the habit of sideloading or extensive customization, activating Auto Blocker can provide additional peace of mind by stalling the rise of social engineering attacks like voice phishing, where attackers could talk users into installing malicious software.

Auto Blocker has a range of additional controls, including turning on app security checks[2] to help detect potential malware and prevent harmful commands and software installations by USB cable. This can help protect users in a situation where someone has physical access to their device, like when charging a phone at an airport.

With this feature also comes an update to Message Guard, which mitigates Zero Click attacks, or direct image messages hiding malicious code. Initially launched for messaging apps from Google and Samsung, it now can help protect users using popular third party apps.[3] This way, users have greater choice over the apps they can safely use.

Pushing the Industry Forward With New Security Standards

Samsung sets the foundation for a safer, more secure mobile experience for Galaxy users, and Auto Blocker takes this one step further by combining industry-leading security standards with user choice to allow customers to control their device their way. As the latest feature to be added to Samsung’s suite of security and privacy innovations, Auto Blocker further optimizes the mobile experience for users across the Galaxy ecosystem.

Auto Blocker is available now on Samsung Galaxy devices compatible with One UI 6.

For more information about One UI, go to: https://www.samsung.com/my/one-ui/

To learn more about Samsung, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/my/

[1] Authorized sources include Google Play and Galaxy Store.

[2] Currently not available on US carrier models.

[3] Messenger, Telegram, KakaoTalk, WhatsApp.

Samsung Galaxy users can now experience productivity and connectivity within the most secure ecosystem with Samsung’s Galaxy devices. Continually setting new standards of security, Samsung strives to keep more users safe in more ways than ever and with its latest security innovations users can live life with greater options and less effort – so life can truly open up possibilities, now and for years to come.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, here are six features you can leverage on your Galaxy device that ensures you stay connected and secure:

Worried about getting your payment data stolen?

With Samsung Wallet[1] you need not be. Samsung Wallet enables you to use your Galaxy devices, like your smartphone or smartwatch, to shop with your debit and credit cards virtually everywhere contactless transactions are accepted. Just add your cards to Samsung Wallet and tap to pay.

A key feature of Samsung Wallet is Samsung Pay, where every transaction is authenticated by your fingerprint or PIN. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can remotely lock or erase your Samsung Wallet account with SmartThings Find.

On top of this, your phone is protected by Samsung Knox technology which constantly monitors and keeps your information safe, ensuring your card information is encrypted in a separate and secure data vault at all times and isolated from the main operating system for even further protection. In Samsung Wallet, several special security methods like tokenization are used to protect your payment information and reduce the security risks inherent to plastic cards.

For that added peace of mind, you can also store your payment information and apps in Samsung’s Secure Folder^[2], and even hide the icon so it doesn’t appear on your home or apps screen. Secure Folder protects your private content and apps from being accessed by others and is the place to store all the photos, videos, files, apps, and data that you want to keep private. The folder is protected by the defense-grade security platform, and you can also add passcode or biometric lock to keep your data safe from any prying eyes.

Annoyed by spam messages? With Samsung, protect yourself against unwanted disturbances so you focus on the things that matter.

While many of us might consider spam messages to simply be a nuisance, they could be hiding malicious code that is able to infect your device. This type of cyberattack, often called zero-click exploits, is typically disguised as image attachments within text.

Samsung Message Guard preemptively protects your device from these zero-click exploits and limits your exposure to these invisible threats.  When an image file arrives, Samsung Message Guard checks the file bit by bit and processes it in a controlled environment, ensuring it is isolated from the rest of the device. This prevents any potential malicious code from accessing your phone’s files or interacting with its operating system. Samsung Message Guard is then able to neutralize any potential threat hiding in that image file. It also runs silently and largely invisibly in the background[3] and does not need to be activated by the user. So where previously you could be endangered without doing anything, now you are protected from zero-click exploits without lifting a finger.

Avoid misfiring a private photo or text with Samsung Galaxy’s Private Share[4], a privacy-preserving file-sharing function that allows you to share your data without being concerned about an invasion of privacy and loss of ownership.

Samsung Private Share comes with a myriad of features. As the owner of your data, you can ensure only the designated receiver can open files, set permission and expiration dates for the data, grant read-only access without the ability to re-share, revoke the data accessibility given to the receiver whenever you choose, ensure screen capture is not allowed and also see when the recipient received and opened it.

With Samsung Private Share, you can also safely remove location metadata from photos before sharing and courtesy of blockchain-based encryption technology, your files are securely and fully encrypted when shared.

Love working remotely? Work securely and flexibly with Samsung’s end-to-end protection.

Work from wherever you’re most comfortable, with Samsung’s Secure Wi-Fi which lets you browse the internet safely, even when you’re using unsecured, public Wi-Fi networks. It offers complete and secure protection by encrypting internet traffic and blocking any tracking apps. Up to 250 MB of Secure Wi-Fi per month is available automatically to Galaxy users[5].

Add Secure Wi-Fi icon directly on your home screen for easy access to the app – from which you can even route your internet traffic through two separate relays so no one can access your IP address, for enhanced privacy protection especially when you’re working remotely in public spaces.

Go through the day with greater peace of mind, knowing that Samsung lets you tailor your privacy the way you like.

Samsung Pass’[6] innovative biometric authentication technology ensures you no longer have to remember countless usernames and passwords again. It includes an Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor[7] that allows you to access important data easily and securely by counteracting spoofing attempts that use 2D replicas of your fingerprint.

With Samsung’s Security & Privacy Dashboard, you have complete control over who sees your data and how it gets used. In one easy-to-use Dashboard, you can view, set, and adjust all your app permissions, controls, and data-sharing opt-in features. The Dashboard also gives an overview of information that may be at risk, showing the safety status of security items, lets you quickly change settings to manage risks more seamlessly.

The Items that have the potential to make the biggest impact on your digital safety — including Lock Screen, Accounts, SmartThings Find, App Safety and Updates — are now instantly accessible at the top of the dashboard, with clear indicators provided if there are security issues. The Dashboard also includes instant action prompts, such as permissions, that make data management more transparent.

If you use your Galaxy phone or watch for your wellbeing and exercise, the Samsung Health app guarantees that your heath data is fully protected through encryption, with enhanced security provided by Knox that detects malicious software and prevents your health data from being misused.

Lost your phone? Don’t worry about your information and data getting into the wrong hands.

With SmartThings Find, you can locate, lock and wipe your device remotely, initiating a complete lockdown of access to your personal information. Find My Mobile is a part of Samsung’s SmartThings Find, and enables you to not only locate your Galaxy smartphone, but also your tablets, watches, and other devices.

New features and enhancements make it easier than ever to find your devices such as tracking the approximate location and route of your lost device, as well as locking the screen, the power button, and Samsung Wallet on the lost device. Ringing sounds can also be activated to help you find the device, and you can delete or back up data to Samsung Cloud to protect your information.

If you ever forget the screen lock code for your device, you can still reset the screen lock remotely from the SmartThings Find website. Offline Galaxy devices can also be found even when mobile data is disconnected, as long as they are turned on.

Open collaboration and a secure ecosystem

In line with Samsung’s philosophy of open collaboration, Samsung works closely with the most trusted industry partners and wider security community to define and expand security standards, by better identifying flaws before they become problematic. Alongside Samsung Knox Matrix, which goes beyond traditional security infrastructure to offer a comprehensive approach to security across devices’ ecosystem, Galaxy users get more secure and richer connected experiences across devices, with Samsung’s SmartThings. This means end-to-end protection and real-time threat detection, built into every single layer of their connected devices – be it mobile devices, TVs, smart home appliances and more.

At the end of the day, whether you’re working or pursuing your passions on the latest Galaxy devices, you’ll always have the privacy you want and the security you need for the freedom to go where life takes you.

[1] Samsung Wallet is available on devices that support P OS or higher and Samsung Pay. Samsung Wallet is compatible with Galaxy S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G, Note20, Note20 Ultra, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Note10+, Note10 5G, S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, Note9, S9, S9+, Note8, S8, S8+, Z Flip 5G, Z Fold2 5G, Fold, Z Flip, A51, A51 5G, A50, A71 5G.

[2] Secure Folder availability may be limited on select Galaxy A, M, and F series devices. Galaxy A, M, and F series users can check availability within Settings.

[3] Default messaging app varies by market.

[4] Private Share can only be supported on Galaxy mobile phones that have Android P OS or higher. If the Private Share app is not pre-loaded on your mobile devices that have Android P OS or higher, you can download it in the Galaxy Store or Play Store. Private Share is pre-loaded on devices with One UI 3.1 support. Private Share is not supported on Tablet and PC and it’s only supported between Galaxy mobile devices. Shareable types of files: Image (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .webp), Video (.webm, .mp4, .3gp, .mkv), Audio (.mp3, .wav, .ogg, .m4a), Text (.txt) Device screenshots and menus may vary depending on the device model and software version.

[5] Availability and offer may vary by model, market, and carrier.

[6] The available functions, features, and compatible applications for Samsung Pass may vary by market due to differing regulatory and legal environments.

[7] Biometric sensor availability and type may vary by model.

Did you know that just receiving an image might be enough to let hackers in? While everyone knows not to open random links or attachments, which no longer guarantees safety as cybercriminals constantly explore new methods of attack.

Zero-click exploits are the latest kind of cyberattack, and they can take place any time an image is received. A single image could be hiding malicious code.

While there has been no sign of such attacks on Samsung Galaxy smartphones, Samsung Electronics constantly looks ahead to anticipate potential threats and develop preemptive security measures — such as Samsung Message Guard.

New Security for New Threats

Picture this: your phone receives an image. It vibrates gently in your pocket before going still. Or it’s on your bedside table, lighting up briefly as you sleep. You have not touched your phone, but someone may already be reading your messages, browsing your gallery and copying your bank details.

Zero-click exploits are just the latest threat in an era of increased cybercrime targeting user data. One in three consumers around the world has been the victim of a data breach where their personal data was hacked.[1] Data breaches are increasingly common, with rates more than tripling between 2013 and 2021.[2]

Threats evolve, but so  does Samsung’s mobile security. Samsung Galaxy smartphones offer comprehensive safeguards with the powerful Samsung Knox platform, and users are already protected from attacks using video and audio formats. Samsung Message Guard takes that security one step further by preemptively protecting your device, limiting exposure to invisible threats disguised as image attachments.[3]

The security solution currently works on Samsung Messages and Messages by Google.[4] In line with Samsung’s philosophy of open collaboration, a software update will roll out later to let Samsung Message Guard protect you across third party messaging apps as well.

A Secure Environment

Samsung Message Guard is an advanced “sandbox,” or a kind of virtual quarantine. When an image file arrives, it is trapped and isolated from the rest of the device. This prevents malicious code from accessing your phone’s files or interacting with its operating system. Samsung Message Guard checks the file bit by bit and processes it in a controlled environment to ensure it cannot infect the rest of your device.

Simply put, Samsung Message Guard automatically neutralizes any potential threat hiding in image files before they have a chance to do you any harm. It also runs silently and largely invisibly in the background and does not need to be activated by the user. So where previously you could be endangered without doing anything, now you are protected from zero-click exploits without lifting a finger.

Samsung Message Guard is just the latest forward-looking security solution from Samsung. Separately, Samsung Galaxy devices already provide industry-leading security and privacy protections in other areas, thanks to the award-winning Samsung Knox. This provides end-to-end protection across every layer of hardware and software, as well as real-time threat detection.

Availability

Samsung Message Guard is a solution on the Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

[1] 2022 Thales Consumer Digital Trust Index, https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/data-trust-index.

[2] 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, Verizon, https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/.

[3] Samsung Message Guard supports protection against the following image formats: PNG, JPG/JPEG, GIF, ICO, WEBP, BMP, WBMP.

[4] Default messaging app varies by market.