how Google wants to fix the problems caused by 2G

Google details its security measures for Android 14 against cellular data attacks. They aim to give users more control over the 2G use of their devices, but also to counter the interception of voice and SMS traffic.

While Android 14 will probably be released next month, Google continues to list the changes made to this version of the OS for our smartphones. The firm published a blog post on August 8 in which it explains how it intends to further protect cell phones from cellular data attacks.

The dangers of 2G still today

Google observes that fake network terminals for hackers abound and that the protection of mobile data has become a priority. The most crucial risks would be on the 2G networks according to Google: remember that within five years, this standard will no longer be supported in France by any operator. However, all smartphones remain compatible and the connection ” can also be remotely triggered by a malicious attack, silently tricking devices into downgrading to 2G-only connectivity and therefore ignoring any non-2G networks writes Google. In addition, some attacks called ” man in the middle (the man in the middle) are much easier on the 2G network than on 3G, 4G, or even 5G.

Based on this observation, Android 14 will allow companies and government organizations disable support for 2G technology in their fleet of managed devices. “Another new feature that is appearing: the deactivation of cellular connectivity” zero encryption. With its Android Enterprise formula, Android 14 will offer more than 200 new management controls.

End-to-end encryption, for all connections

Another important change is the arrival of end-to-end encryption for all network traffic. Google explains that today, ” the network decides whether the traffic is encrypted and the user has no visibility into the encryption. “Some Malware” provide functionality to trick devices into believing that encryption is not supported by the network, thereby downgrading the connection to zero encryption and allowing traffic to be intercepted “, can we read in the article of the company.

Android 14 will therefore offer the deactivation of support for connections without encryption, directly at the modem level. Google specifies that it will always be possible to make emergency calls via an unencrypted connection. The goal is to improve the confidentiality of communications on a very large scale in the coming years. In this regard, other security features on cellular connections are planned for the next versions of Android. In addition to that, other security options are on the Android 14 program: blocking applications that are not updated in terms of their security or a function to hide animations when entering the PIN code .

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