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Android 14 introduces first-of-its-kind cellular connectivity security features - Google Security Blog (security.googleblog.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Key points:

Android 14 introduces advanced cellular security measures, becoming the first OS to do so.
2G support can now be disabled in managed devices to counter security vulnerabilities associated with false base stations and downgrading attacks.
A new feature disables support for null-ciphered cellular connections, enhancing communication privacy.
Android 12 had already introduced a modem-level 2G disabling feature for Pixel 6 and other Android devices.
Android's efforts to enhance cellular security encompass collaborations with internal teams, academic groups, and industry standards bodies.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This is handy. You have been able to disable 2G by dialing *#*#4636#*#* > phone information for a while, but thats not well known

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Is there a downside to disabling 2G?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Depending on where you live, 2G may be the only option in some places due to much better range than all other generations. Also while driving for example, your phone may need to connect to a 2G base temporarily if there is a gap between the range of the 5G ones, so you may get calls dropping randomly

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

But it's worth noting that any emergency call that requires 2G to go through will still work.

Emergency calls will use any network they can reach, even if you disable it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If somehow you are in a place with no better signal than 2G, you cannot make calls/send SMS if you cannot join 2G cells.

But it is very rare to end up in such a situation these days.