Android 16 introduces a groundbreaking security feature aimed at uncovering long-standing surveillance tactics. This new feature alerts users whenever their phone connects to an untrustworthy or suspicious mobile network, such as those set up by fake cell towers. These fake towers, also known as stingrays or cell-site simulators, trick nearby devices into connecting, allowing attackers to intercept data like your IMEI number and force your phone onto older, more vulnerable networks like 2G. Once on 2G, unencrypted calls and texts become easier to intercept. While stingrays are often used by law enforcement, hackers and other malicious actors can also exploit them.
Google has been working for some time to combat these threats.
Android 12 introduced the ability to disable 2G support, and Android 14 added protections for unencrypted connections. Android 15 enhanced the system’s ability to detect when a network tries to access your device’s unique identifiers or alter encryption settings.
However, the full potential of these features requires support from the phone’s modem, specifically Android’s IRadio HAL version 3.0. Unfortunately, many current devices don’t support this, meaning some features are still inaccessible, even on devices running the latest Android versions.
With Android 16, Google has added a dedicated “Mobile Network Security” settings page inside the Safety Center. The page provides two key features: network notifications, which alert users when their phone connects to an unencrypted network or when a network requests device identifiers, and 2G network protection, which allows users to disable 2G support entirely.
Both of these features are disabled by default and only become visible if the device’s hardware supports them. As a result, current Pixel models won’t show the new settings page, but future devices like the upcoming Pixel 10, expected to launch with Android 16, will likely support these options.
When enabled, Android will send alerts to the notification panel and the Safety Center whenever your phone switches from an encrypted to an unencrypted network. It will also log attempts by networks to access your phone’s identifiers. This is a major step forward in user privacy protection, especially considering that Apple does not currently provide a similar real-time alert for fake cell towers or insecure networks. Apple’s protections exist but are generally hidden in carrier settings and not easily adjustable by users.
For Android users, this update represents a significant but modest advancement in protecting against silent tracking methods. While older devices may miss out on these improvements, it’s clear that Google is pushing forward with stronger defenses. The real impact of this feature, however, will largely depend on how quickly other manufacturers adopt the necessary hardware for this level of security.