Message Protection

Message Protection automatically moves scam text messages into a separate folder, keeping them out of the main inbox. Once it is enabled, messages from unknown senders are checked for signs of a scam. For example, a message might look like it comes from a bank, but the link inside it does not lead to the bank, or the message asks for banking details that a real bank would never request over text.

Only messages from unknown senders are evaluated. Conversations with known contacts remain private and are never analyzed.

On iOS, the operating system decides which messages Kiren is allowed to check, so protection is not absolute. A suspicious message can still end up in the inbox even with the feature enabled. When that happens, the message can always be double-checked with the Message Checker, and feedback can be sent to Kiren if a scam was not detected correctly. Message Protection works automatically in the background, while the Message Checker is a manual tool where a message is copied and pasted in for a one-off check.

Why enable it

Scam texts are one of the most common ways people are tricked into giving away money or personal information. Enabling Message Protection means suspected scam messages from unknown senders are filtered away from the main inbox, lowering the chance of tapping a harmful link or replying to a fraudulent request by mistake.

Enabling Message Protection

Setup is done in the iPhone's own settings and involves two parts: turning on filtering, and turning on reporting.

Part 1: Set up filtering (button: Open Messages settings)

  1. Open Messages settings.
  2. Under "Unknown Senders", switch on "Screen Unknown Senders".
  3. Tap "Text Message Filter".
  4. Select Kiren.
  5. Return to Kiren and tick the checkbox "I've turned on filtering" to confirm.

Part 2: Set up reporting (button: Open Phone settings)

  1. Open Phone settings.
  2. Under "Call Filtering", tap "SMS/Call Reporting".
  3. Select Kiren.
  4. Return to Kiren and tick the checkbox "I've turned on reporting" to confirm.

Reporting a message

Reporting helps improve filtering and is also how a mistake can be corrected if a genuine message was filtered by error. A suspicious message, or a false positive, can be reported through the Messages app:

  1. Go to the message.
  2. Press and hold the message to open the menu.
  3. Tap "More...".
  4. Tap "Report Messages".

Finding filtered messages

Filtered messages are kept in the "Spam" folder in the Messages app. To get there, tap the Go to message button. This opens a new message creation screen. Close the new message, and the Messages inbox will be shown. This slightly indirect route is used because it is currently the only reliable way for another application to open the iOS Messages inbox.

From the inbox:

  1. Tap the filters icon in the top right corner.
  2. Tap "Spam" to see the filtered messages.

As a safety reminder, avoid tapping any links inside these messages.

More information

Apple provides full details on screening and filtering text messages on iPhone: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/screen-and-filter-texts-iph203ab0be4/ios

Related topics

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Getting started

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