Android 16 can warn you that you might be connected to a fake cell tower

2G and 3G no longer exist, unless you are using an outdated provider. eSIM alone provides a significant security boost.

 

Does it? I was unaware that it made a difference. I'll have to look into it.

 

There can be only one, I would post Highlander reference, but Wilders would remove it. Unlike a physical SIM, there can be only one active eSIM, that alone prevents SIMjacking. SMS is already insecure, eSIM deals with it.

 

Thanks, I'll do some research.

 

I generally do not allow 2FA using SMS, because of 1987 vulnerability. If you are using SMS as 2FA, you are actually lowering your security. MS and Google allows not to use it, but FB uses SMS by default.

 

CSPs shutting down 3G and/or 2G doesn't mean that someone can't create malicious and unauthorized 3G tower. My Android phone only provides option to disable 2G, not 3G.

 

How does it lower your security? Yes SMS might not be bullet proof, but isn't it better than just using a password? (Ie. Malicious actors need to compromise both the password and a Sim, whereas without they just need the password.)

Unfortunately banks in Canada only use sms for 2FA.

 

Hacker might have a hard time getting your password, but generating your phone number is as easy as generating a new MAC address.
eSIM deals with that. In that case using no 2FA is better than using 2FA with SMS, SMS can be used to gain access to your account.

That sucks, I have 3 banks (Revolut is one of them) and all use apps for security verifications, SMS is optional. I guess that is one of the benefits of being in EU.

 

It was not 2FA in the first place if that is the case for particular service. 2FA, as name implies, requires 2 factors.
I know Yahoo mail was doing that in the past... Banks will probably require in-person visit though

 

My iPhone and Apple Watch both use an eSIM and share the same phone number.

 

That is interesting, I wonder, if it is some kind of feature, like I can handle calls via my watch, but it is considered as one device, because of BT connectivity.

I have 5G phone and 5G connectivity, but I can choose, which network to choose. 3G does not even work, I prefer 4G, because of 5G health concerns, though 5G is like 5 times faster. 5gspaceappeal.org

 

Ok, so you also don't have option to disable 3G. Yours UE can prefer it, but it still can be switched to it in right conditions. And 3G will be available if you come by unauthorized and malicious 3G tower. It is not like criminal will respect 3G shutdown plans.

 

They absolutely exist.

In many countries, 2G will remain around for quite a while longer, as it's used for all sorts of meters/telemetry tools.
3G has been deprecated in various places, but not everywhere.

eSIM provides no security boost on its own whatsoever.

Mrk