NordVPN has released a free Android app called HangUp that screens calls and texts for potential scams and telemarketers. The app does not require a paid subscription and uses technology from Hiya.
The app became available on July 24 for download from the Google Play Store. Users must sign in with a NordVPN account, which can be created for free, and grant permissions for caller ID and spam identification.
HangUp checks incoming calls against caller reputation data and issues warnings for suspected scams, spam or telemarketing. It can also scan text messages for fraud or deceptive content using NordVPN’s Message Protection feature launched in June. Users may block categories of calls but cannot block individual numbers.
NordVPN Product Director Domininkas Virbickas stated that the numbers reflect a deeper anxiety about not being able to trust a call. The company emphasized that the app serves only as an informational tool and does not record calls or store message content.
Nearly 80 percent of Americans received at least one scam call in the past year, according to a NordVPN survey. The app is already built into the main NordVPN service for premium customers.
