It turns out that your smartphone may be susceptible to vulnerabilities that put you at risk of being tracked. To combat this, Google is launching a new security feature in Android 16 that will alert users if their device is using a fake or insecure mobile network, or if that network requests identification information about a connected device.
However, these features are likely to be available only in the next generation of Android devices, as first reported by Android Authority. Since current Android devices lack the hardware to support these features, the first compatible Android device with this technology could be the Pixel 10, which is expected to debut later this summer.
This feature is designed to counter cellular simulators, or devices that act like cell towers and trick nearby devices into connecting to them. Once connected, these simulators can collect sensitive information, such as the location of a smartphone. These cellular simulators are better known by the commercial name Stingray and are reportedly used by agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
Future security features will be introduced as part of the latest Android OS update, which was released earlier this month. Compatible devices will have the option to enable or disable “network alerts” that will alert you when your device connects to an unencrypted network or when a connected network requests unique identifiers for your phone. Additionally, there is another option that allows you to enable “2G network protection” to avoid the less secure type of mobile networks.
