Android phones could soon warn you of “Stingrays” snooping on you

Andyross

Smartphones contain a treasure trove of personal data, which makes them a worthwhile target for hackers. However, law enforcement is not above snooping on cell phones, and their tactics are usually much harder to detect. Cell site simulators, often called Stingrays, can trick your phone into revealing private communications, but a change in Android 16 could allow phones to detect this spying.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/future-android-phones-could-warn-you-about-data-stealing-fake-cell-towers/

vaxvms

But it requires specific hardware support that is missing on current phones.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/future-android-phones-could-warn-you-about-data-stealing-fake-cell-towers/

As part of Google’s mobile network security features, Android phones will be able to detect when a network requests a unique identifier or attempts to force an unencrypted connection. The problem, however, is that no current phones can do this.

ElQuintron

Will merge into existing topic

Somewhat-Reticent

Alphabet Marketing competes with Apple Marketing?
2G on-device shutdown should’ve been available years ago.
Stingray detection & prevention should’ve been available by now.
By the time consumers are offered this new ‘feature’,
surely updated interception tech will have made it moot?