Apple iOS 18.2 introduces real-time spam blocking with Truecaller: Here’s how it works

The latest update in iOS 18.2 has addressed a significant privacy issue, enabling third-party apps like Truecaller to access caller information via their servers and automatically block known spammers.

Users have long relied on apps like Truecaller to reject incoming spam calls. But Apple’s privacy rules had previously prevented the iOS version from being as effective as its Android counterpart, according to 9to5Mac.

While Android devices have been far ahead of iPhones in identifying spam callers in real time, Apple’s new API in iOS 18.2 has resolved this limitation, allowing Truecaller to automatically block spam calls.


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Truecaller: Android vs iPhone

Once installed on Android devices, Truecaller checks the incoming phone number displayed on the caller ID and cross-references it with its database of known spam callers. If the number matches, it adds a spam or scam warning to the incoming call screen. Moreover, Truecaller on Android devices can block spam or scam calls entirely, ensuring users never even see the unwanted call.

Unlike Android, Apple’s privacy rules did not allow third-party apps like Truecaller to function in a similar manner on its iPhones. This was because Apple classified the phone number of an incoming caller as personal data, preventing these apps from sending the number to their servers for identification. Instead, the iOS version relied on a less detailed approach, periodically downloading offline databases that apps like Truecaller had to use to match numbers.

iOS 18.2 boosts Truecaller productivity

Addressing the privacy concerns, Apple has introduced the Live Caller ID Lookup API in iOS 18.2. The update ensures that phone numbers are encrypted on the device before being sent to Truecaller’s server, where an encrypted response is returned and decrypted on the iPhone.

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This new framework has been specifically designed for third-party caller ID apps like Truecaller, enabling the latest version of the iOS app to access the live database for real-time identification.

FAQs

How to download Truecaller on iPhone?
You can download the Truecaller app on your iPhone from the App store.

Does Truecaller work on Apple devices?
Yes, users can download and take help of Truecaller app on iPhones to detect spam calls.