INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Smartphones contain a treasure trove of personal data, which makes them a worthwhile target for hackers
However, law enforcement is not above snooping on cell phones, and their tactics are usually much harder to detect
Cell site simulators, often called Stingrays, can trick your phone into revealing private communications, but a change in Android 16 could
allow phones to detect this spying.Law enforcement organizations have massively expanded the use of Stingray devices because almost every
person of interest today uses a cell phone at some point
These devices essentially trick phones into connecting to them like a normal cell tower, allowing the operator to track that device's
The fake towers can also shift a phone to less secure wireless technology to intercept calls and messages
There's no indication this is happening on the suspect's end, which is another reason these machines have become so popular with
police.However, while surveilling a target, Stingrays can collect data from other nearby phones
It's not unreasonable to expect a modicum of privacy if you happen to be in the same general area, but sometimes police use Stingrays simply
There's also evidence that cell simulators have been deployed by mysterious groups outside law enforcement
Google has had plans to address this security issue for more than a year, but a lack of hardware support has slowed progress
Finally, in the coming months, we will see the first phones capable of detecting this malicious activity, and Android 16 is ready for it.
