There’s one massive characteristic I am wanting ahead to in iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and MacOS Tahoe 26, and it is one which Apple ought to have added ages in the past: name and textual content screening. It may do greater than preserve me from speaking to strangers — it may preserve me protected from scammers seeking to steal my info or my identification.
Just like options from Google and Samsung, Apple’s Call Screening vets unknown callers by checking what they need earlier than sending them your method. The corporate introduced the aptitude at its Worldwide Developers Conference 2025 keynote.
This might assist curb the specter of AI voice clone scams, which permit scammers to create AI voice clones with simply 3 seconds of recorded voice. These name and message screening options might come years after lots of Apple’s opponents have already applied them, but it surely’s a straightforward W for Apple nonetheless.
There’s additionally a brand new textual content message filtering functionality that locations messages from unknown senders right into a separate folder so that you can overview or ignore. This might assist restrict the quantity of people that fall for job, toll or different text phishing scams.
I get two, possibly three of those textual content messages per week. Having them on their very own little island might not cease the frequency at which they’re despatched, however it can definitely present some peace of thoughts that I will not unintentionally click on a scam link or fall for an AI phishing scam. Plus, a much less cluttered inbox is all the time good.
Apple’s new options come at a great time, too. A latest CNET survey confirmed that 96% of Americans receive at least one scam message from electronic mail, cellphone calls or texts every week. Whereas Apple could also be late to the social gathering, something that helps fewer scams attain you is a welcomed addition.
