When you think about digital privacy, you probably imagine shady apps or data leaks. But there’s a more old-school threat still hanging around: the network your phone connects to.
Google’s upcoming Android 16 is finally addressing this. With new network security features, Android will now be able to alert users if their device connects to a fake or insecure mobile network — a trick used by surveillance tools like Stingrays (a.k.a. cell site simulators) that pretend to be real cell towers.
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The Real Problem: Fake Cell Towers
Cell site simulators have been around for a while. These devices trick your phone into thinking it’s connecting to a legit network — and once it does, they can pull location data or even request your phone’s unique identifiers. They’ve reportedly been used by various government agencies, but the concern is broader: this tech can fall into the wrong hands, fast.
What Android 16 Is Bringing to the Table
In Android 16, users will have the option to turn on network alerts. Here’s what they’ll do:
- Warn you when your phone is connected to an unencrypted network
- Alert you if the network asks for your device’s identifiers
- Offer the ability to disable 2G connections — a common weak spot in mobile network security
But here’s the catch — most current Android phones don’t support this hardware-based feature. So while the update is part of the Android 16 rollout, the first phones to support it are likely coming later — possibly with the Pixel 10, expected to launch this summer.
Why This Actually Matters
We live in a world where data is currency — and devices like Stingrays take that without you even realizing. These new security toggles won’t make your phone bulletproof, but they will make it harder for bad actors to quietly siphon off your data through outdated or spoofed networks.
If you’re holding out for your next phone upgrade, this might be a good reason to pay attention to the specs — not just the camera.
