This Android 16 feature could stop hackers from spying on your phone

Most of us don’t really think about it, but our phones can actually be tracked without us even knowing. And Google is finally doing something about it. With the next big Android update — Android 16 — your phone will soon be able to warn you if it connects to a fake or unsafe mobile network that could be used to spy on you.

Here’s what’s going on. There are devices out there, often called Stingrays, that pretend to be mobile towers. Your phone can easily get tricked into connecting with them. Once that happens, whoever’s behind it can figure out your location and even grab some of your personal information. Scary, right? These tools have reportedly been used by government agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

Google’s new feature is designed to fight exactly that. If your phone connects to a fake or insecure network, it will pop up a warning, letting you know that something’s not right. It’ll also tell you if the network is trying to pull sensitive details like your phone’s unique ID.

But — and here’s the catch — most current Android phones won’t support this. It needs new hardware. The first phone expected to come with this built-in protection is likely the upcoming Pixel 10, which should launch later this year.