Technology

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Google Messages has already improved a lot since it landed over 11 years ago – and over the past couple of weeks we've seen Google test more new features that could roll out widely very soon.

Though Google has been dropping new features in Messages since the beginning of the year, these past few weeks have been a particularly busy time, especially for group chats in Google Messages.

But in addition to its new chat icons and group chat links, there's a number of other new design features and overdue functions that could help enhance the Google Messages user experience.

Despite not all of these features being widely available, Google has hinted that they will be rolled out very soon, and we have a lot of APK teardowns from the likes of 9to5Google to thank for an early peek at them. Here's a look at what's likely coming to Google Messages very soon...

1. Easily free up space in RCS chats

(Image credit: Android Authority )

The most recent example of one of Google Messages' next upgrades is this change to receiving videos in RCS chats. Receiving photos and videos is all fun and games until you realize all your phone's storage has been used up, and this new feature aims to tackle that.

In a new APK teardown from Android Authority, the outlet has found that Google is testing a new feature that allows you to quickly delete videos from a RCS chats and free up space in your phone's gallery. Until now videos sent in Google Messages had a forward shortcut button, which is now being replaced with the new delete shortcut.

Although Android Authority has managed to get this new function working, there's no way to pinpoint an exact roll out date, but it could be soon.

2. 'Delete for everyone' function

Google Messages' 'Delete for everyone' function is another one of the latest features that have emerged. First spotted back in February, more users are starting to see it crop up in their Google Messages app but it's not yet available for everyone - suggesting that it will be rolled out gradually.

There's already a 'Delete for me' option but this new update will allow you to remove messages from the view of everyone in a chat. Users who have access have noticed that 'Delete for everyone' only works in larger group chats, and have yet to find a 1:1 chat where they can use it.

There's also a 15-minute time window, meaning that if you want to remove a text from a conversation, you’ll have to be quick.

RCS message delete is also rolling out to beta people. from r/GoogleMessages 3. Group chat links

(Image credit: Android Authority )

Just like other messaging platforms, group chat links make it easier to gather your contacts into one big conversation hassle-free, and Google Messages is following suit.

It was first uncovered in an APK teardown by Android Authority and will allow you to create invite links that you can share in standard link form or through a QR code that others can scan.

In the image taken from the teardown, there’s a toggle you can enable that will give you two options; to create a single-use link, or one that can be reused and distributed. Links will expire after 30 days.

4. New group chat icons

(Image credit: Future)

On the topic of group chats, Google Messages is paying a lot of attention to this aspect of its messaging platform and is introducing new group chat icons.

A number of users noticed this in the Google Messages app by opening a group conversation, navigating the top bar to reveal the group details. If a pencil icon appears at the right of your group chat’s existing image, it means you have the freedom to set your own icon.

After experimenting with the feature users have noted that you won't be able to set gifs as icons, and you won't be able to return to a previous icon once a new one has been set.

At the moment, group chat icons in Google Messages only show up to four circle profile images, which doesn’t make it easy to distinguish between chats, so a smaller feature like this will not only be a great design upgrade but a practical one, too.

5. Expanded text message field

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

For a while, Google Messages hasn't been a user's best friend when it comes to composing longer texts, but that's all about to change as Google Messages is expanding its 4-line view limit.

The new text field limit will allow up to 14 lines per message making it easier for you to view longer messages before you send them.

6. New function for snoozing messages

At the same time as group chat links were spotted in Google Messages, there was also speculation of a new group chat muting feature – and it looks as though it's ready to roll out.

This will see a new button added to the toolbar at the top of the screen when you long-press on a chat, which will then show a second menu where you can choose to mute a group chat for one hour, eight hours, 24 hours.

There's even an 'always' option, and the menu reassures you that other members won't see that you have muted the chat.

7. Live location sharing and content warnings

(Image credit: Google)

Live location sharing is a God-send, especially when it comes to finding your friends in larger crowds, and this new feature has been teased by an in-app code.

Users can currently share their location with another person through Google Maps, but it only shows up as a static Google Maps pin. If you move around, this means you’ll have to send your location again – but Google could be working to combat this. Last time we checked the feature wasn't live for us, however there's a chance Google could be experimenting with it behind the scenes.

Additionally, Sensitive Content Warnings went live in a Google Messages' beta a few weeks ago for some users. Accounts owned by users under 18 will automatically have this setting enabled, and users over 18 will have the option to turn it off.

8. Media quality upgrade

In addition to a redesigned gallery, you'll be able to send photos and videos on Google Messages in their original quality which was first spotted in beta in February.

The new layout includes a “HD” icon which you can find in the top-right of the final screen before sending an image. When you tap the icon, a new menu appears allowing you to select from two options; “Optimized for chat”, which trades some quality for a lower file size, or “Original quality”, which sends the original image as found on your phone’s built-in storage.

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It's almost time to say goodbye to Andor. The critically-acclaimed and Emmy-nominated TV series will end this week once its final three episodes landing on Disney+. Sad faces all around.

The best Star Wars show ever made promises to go out with a bang, though. Indeed, while Andor season 2's final act will directly lead into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, there are plenty of loose threads to tie up before its final end credits sequence.

So, if you're preparing to bid adieu to Andor and want to known its last few chapters will be released, I've got you covered. Below, I'll tell you when they'll launch in the US, UK, and Australia – that way, you won't miss when they're released.

What time will Andor season 2 episodes 10 to 12 come out in the US?

US audiences can tune into Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on Tuesday, May 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET to watch Andor's last three episodes.

When can I watch Andor season 2's final three episodes in the UK?

Season 2's last three episodes were thrilling and heart-breaking in equal measure (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

One of Lucasfilm's highest-rated projects will return on Disney+ UK on Wednesday, May 13 at 2am BST.

As I've said in previous articles of this ilk, you'll want to mute certain hashtags or words relating to Andor on social media if you can't watch them until the evening of May 13. That way, you won't have its biggest surprises ruined for you ahead of time.

What is the release date for episodes 10 to 12 of Andor season 2 in Australia?

Syril Karn won't be back in the show's final three episodes (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

One of the best Disney+ shows' final few installments will be available to stream Down Under on Wednesday, May 13 at 11am AEST.

Like your UK counterparts, you might want to stay off social media and/or mute particular hashtags and words. Otherwise, one of 2025's new Star Wars TV shows' best or most shocking moments will be spoiled for you online.

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• A researcher from Rapid7 created a working Proof of Concept for a CPU ransomware
• Such a ransomware would persist on a device even after the hard drive had been replaced
• The PoC will (most likely) never see the light of day

A security researcher wrote ransomware code that infects the computer’s CPU, making it invisible to virtually every antivirus program out there, and making it persistent even when the victim takes out and replaces the computer’s hard drive.

This is according to The Register, who recently spoke with Christiaan Beek, a cybersecurity researcher from Rapid7, who claims to have created a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for such ransomware.

Malware at the CPU level is not exactly arcane science. We’ve seen it in the past, with the likes of JoLax, CosmicStrand, and other UEFI firmware rootkits. However, this is the first time someone’s successfully played with ransomware this way.

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CPU PoC

Beek said that he got the inspiration from a bug in AMD Zen processors that allowed threat actors to load malicious microcode and break the encryption at the hardware level. This would have allowed them to modify the behavior of the CPU as they saw fit.

Beek says that the leaked Conti chat logs from 2022 suggested that actual cybercriminals were discussing the same idea before, but they haven’t yet gotten to a working solution. At least, not that the cybersecurity community knows of.

"If they worked on it a few years ago, you can bet some of them will get smart enough at some point and start creating this stuff," the researcher told the publication.

He also said that he won’t be releasing the code on the internet: "Of course, we won't release that, but it's fascinating, right?"

Ransomware remains one of the biggest threats out there, with companies of all sizes losing billions of dollars every year. In fact, a recent Veeam study, which gathered insights from 1,300 CISOs, IT leaders, and security professionals across the Americas, Europe, and Australia, found that nearly three-quarters of businesses were impacted by ransomware over the past year.

Via The Register

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• Google will pay its biggest ever state settlement over data privacy issues
• The company had been tracking users' geolocation without consent
• It was also collecting biometrics and incognito searches

Google has agreed to pay $1.375 billion to the state of Texas to settle lawsuits over unauthorized tracking and data collection.

It was deemed that the company had been unlawfully tracking users' geolocation, including while 'Location History' was disabled.

Google had also been collecting biometric data, such as facial geometry and voiceprints, without consent, as well as tracking incognito searches and other private user activity.

Google to pay out $1.4 billion for unauthorized data collection

The colossal sum might not be much to a company that generated $350 billion in revenue in the most recent fiscal year, but it's still a sum that could hit the company hard, marking the largest ever state settlement that Google has had to pay out of data privacy issues.

In September 2023, Google paid out its then-largest-ever state settlement of $93 million over allegations of misleading users about how their location data was collected. Earlier in November 2022, the company settled a similar data collection complaint in a payout worth $391 million, but that was to 40 states – not one.

"For years, Google secretly tracked people’s movements, private searches, and even their voiceprints and facial geometry through their products and services. I fought back and won,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton, who declared that "Big Tech is not above the law."

Google's 10-figure settlement follows a similar payout from Meta in July 2024, when it coughed up $1.4 billion over unlawfully collecting and using facial recognition data.

Paxton added: "This $1.375 billion settlement is a major win for Texans’ privacy and tells companies that they will pay for abusing our trust."

A Google spokesperson told TechRadar Pro: "This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed. We are pleased to put them behind us and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services."

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