EFF Article - Google And Apple Introducing New Ways to Defeat Cell Site Simulators
EFF Article - Google And Apple Introducing New Ways to Defeat Cell Site Simulators
Cell-site simulators (CSS)—also known as IMSI Catchers and Stingrays—are a tool that law enforcement and governments use to track the location of phones, intercept or disrupt communications, spy on foreign governments, or even install malware. Cell-site simulators are also used by criminals to send....
I'm not sure if this is strictly privacy or more security related but it does affect iOS and Android and could have privacy implications. It was enough to make me to turn off 2G anyway.
Its really both and it is a good idea to turn off 2G. I am sure LTE CSS exist though.
I feel like Google has two departments internally, a security research and implementation team and a Google ads team. One of them betters security for all android users and another gets bad press for making bad decisions with YouTube, chrome, or other Google services. I'd love to know how the culture is at Google. It's not like security conflicts with Google data collection practices but I still find out interesting to think about nonetheless
Doesn't look to be a way to turn off 2G on Samsung phones.
Take battery out
Samsung in terms of security, privacy and hardware is a total mess. I would avoid Samsung products at all costs.
Fun fact: if you leave your phone in airplane mode then youre not vulnerable to a stingray
Also you'll get a huge increase in battery life.
It seems ridiculous to me that they actually would need these and aren't just using the cell towers themselves for tracking in secret, at least as the government is concerned.
iOS lockdown mode, mentioned at the end of the article seems fairly comprehensive. But I would want to review those steps (in their link) a few times before deciding whether or not to commit.
There are a few cases where 2G is the only option. Please don't remove it...