Google Offers Protection for 2G Networks on Android 14: Get the Details

Google understands that 2G networks are still common in the market, even though 4G is the de facto technology in most countries. However, using an outdated network is a security concern, not only for tech giants, but also for consumers, leaving them vulnerable to potential attacks that may not be patched. So Google understands this threat and has developed a feature to prevent 2G networks from becoming a security issue for users.

The company has shared information about its first connection protection feature that can disable 2G networks on a phone running Android 14. While Google is using the US example for 2G networks, you can put India in the same context where you still have millions of users with 2G enabled feature phones.

Another concern is that even older phones will latch on to a 2G network if other networks are unavailable in the area, which can be a serious weapon for malicious attacks. Google believes that some hackers may block the phone from using other networks and limit its compatibility with the 2G network, allowing them to access the device through a series of software and network vulnerabilities.

“2G networks, which were first introduced in 1991, do not offer the same level of protection as the next generations of mobile communications. In particular, 2G networks based on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard lack mutual authentication, which enables trivial man-in-the-middle attacks, Google explains in this post.

And because of these 2G limitations, hackers tend to downgrade a device’s connectivity options from 5G or 4G to 2G. These features have led to increased surveillance and attacks like Pegasus have shown us the dangers they pose. According to the company, Android 12 was the first version to work in this direction and was first introduced on the Pixel 6, but it is now supported by all Android devices compatible with Radio HAL 1.6+ and Android 14. This security feature is on the rise. to another level.

With its latest version, Google has resorted to securing business devices that are more at risk from such attacks. These customers can protect the devices used by their employees and also control possible traffic interception through 2G networks.