In a critical move for mobile security, Google is preparing to roll out a new feature in Android 16 that will help protect users from fake mobile towers, also known as cell site simulators, that can be used to spy on people without their knowledge.

These deceptive towers, often referred to as stingrays or IMSI catchers, are devices that imitate real cell towers. When a smartphone connects to them, attackers can track the user’s location or intercept sensitive data like phone calls, text messages, or even the phone's unique ID numbers (such as IMEI). What makes them dangerous is that users typically have no idea their phones are connected to a fraudulent network.

Stingrays usually exploit older 2G networks, which lack strong encryption and tower authentication. Even if a person uses a modern 4G or 5G connection, their device can still switch to 2G if the signal is stronger opening the door for such attacks.

Until now, Android users had very limited options to guard against these silent threats. The most effective method was to manually turn off 2G network support—something many people aren’t aware of or don’t know how to do.

That’s changing with Android 16. According to public documentation on the Android Open Source Project, the operating system will introduce a “network security warning” feature. When activated, it will notify users if their phone connects to a mobile network that behaves suspiciously, such as trying to extract device identifiers or downgrade the connection to an unsecured one.

This feature will be accessible through the “Mobile Network Security” settings, where users can also manage 2G-related protections. However, there's a catch: most current Android phones, including Google's own Pixel models, don’t yet have the hardware required to support this function. As a result, the feature is not yet visible in settings, and it’s expected to debut on newer devices launching later this year.

Industry observers believe that this detection system might first appear on the upcoming Pixel 10, potentially making it one of the most security-focused smartphones to date.

While stingray technology is sometimes used by law enforcement agencies for surveillance under strict regulations, its misuse remains a serious privacy concern especially if such tools fall into the wrong hands.

With Android 16, Google is taking a step toward giving users more control and awareness over the security of their mobile connections. As surveillance tactics become more advanced, these kinds of features are increasingly necessary to protect personal privacy.