Android 16 update targets Stingray attacks with real-time alerts for fake cell tower connections

Why it matters: As Android 16's new security features roll out with the next generation of smartphones, users will, for the first time, have a tool to detect invisible digital surveillance. Whether this prompts broader reforms in how such technology is used and regulated remains to be seen. Still, the feature reflects a growing awareness of the need to protect personal privacy in the mobile age.

An upcoming Android update will introduce a warning system to help users detect one of the most elusive forms of digital surveillance: the Stingray attack. Android Authority notes that as part of the Android 16 rollout, select new devices will alert users when their phone connects to a suspicious or insecure mobile network.

Android 16 will introduce a new "Mobile network security" setting that alerts users when their device connects to an unencrypted network or when a network requests device identifiers – both signs ...