Google Messages is Google’s Android messaging app. It handles standard SMS and MMS, and it can also use RCS, a richer messaging protocol that supports features such as read receipts, typing indicators, and higher-quality media when carrier and device support is available.
In cyber security, Google Messages matters because it sits on a trusted communication path. It often depends on phone-number registration, SIM state, and Google account data, so a device change, reset, or account problem can break messaging without any malware being involved. Attackers can abuse the same trust model through SIM swap, stolen devices, or account takeover to intercept messages or register the app on a new device. Defenders should treat unexpected RCS re-registration, missing message history, or failed verification as signals to check account and device integrity, not just app settings.