In the era of “Mother of all breaches”, Android comes to the rescue. Recently, Google has announced a new feature in Android 16, which aims to warn users of fake cell towers and spying threats. This makes a substantial difference because Stingrays, also known as cell site simulators, are being used by some law enforcement companies like ICE and CBP. They use it to track location, calls, texts and device ID for criminal investigations. But it also affects innocent people nearby who get caught in the surveillance.
Therefore, Google has added these features to Android, but these won’t be available in previous versions due to hardware limitations. According to Android Authority, future phones like the Pixel 10 will support this new feature. It offers a network notification; if your phone is connected to a suspicious or unencrypted network, you’ll get a warning. In addition, it provides 2G network protection, as it’s an old network that is more vulnerable to attacks.
As the digital threats are increasing, we receive news of data breaches daily, such as reports of password leaks, attacks on airline data systems and many more. In the race where everyone is chasing success in the artificial intelligence sector and other tech areas, safety should be our utmost priority, and Google is leading the way.
These tool updates are not just about responding to threats; Google is setting a new standard for proactive digital safety. Because taking action after a breach is not a proper protection, that’s just a defence. We need predictive maintenance, tools and systems that prevent issues before they even happen. In a world that’s getting more connected day by day, Google’s move reflects the growing demand for smarter and safer technology.
Google is rolling out a new security feature in Android 16 that will warn users if their device is using a fake or insecure mobile network or if that network requests identifying information about a connected device.