Overview

• Google’s Android 16 will feature a “Mobile Network Security” warning that alerts users when they connect to unencrypted networks or when device IDs like IMSI or IMEI are targeted.
• The warning system depends on smartphone modems supporting Google’s IRadio 3.0 hardware layer, which no current devices offer.
• Analysts expect the Pixel 10, likely arriving in late 2025, to be the first smartphone equipped with an IRadio 3.0-compatible modem and the new alert feature.
• In the meantime, security authorities including Germany’s BSI continue to recommend disabling 2G connections to reduce exposure to IMSI-Catcher surveillance.
• Experts caution that while the built-in alerts mark a significant OS-level defense upgrade, their real-world reliability remains untested as attackers adapt their methods.