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

Android 16 will introduce the ability to detect Stingray devices, which are cell site simulators used by law enforcement to intercept phone communications by mimicking legitimate cell towers. These devices can track location, downgrade security protocols, and collect data from nearby phones without user awareness. While Google has planned this security feature for over a year, implementation was delayed due to lack of hardware support. The first phones with the necessary hardware to detect these fake cell towers are expected in the coming months.