Forum Discussion
2G cannot be disabled?
I wanted to disable 2G calling, because it's insecure and I don't want my device to roam onto 2G while I'm abroad.
However the "Allow 2G" option (Android, Pixel 6) is switched on and disabled from being changed, per carrier settings. I was wondering why Smarty have prevented me from changing this, setting as they don't even have a 2G network (as I understand it).
16 Replies
I can disable 2G (Allow 2G =OFF) Pixel 7 Android 15
Can now confirm this is fixed with the Android 15 update. Not sure if by Smarty or Google as I think Google were going to allow users to manually override carrier choice on this from Android 15 but also there is a new carrier update version dated July - possibly released with the Android 15 update so it may be Smarty. Regardless, well done whoever is responsible and everyone should remember to disable 2G when they update to Android 15!
Aye, same on Pixel 8. This needs to be fixed. Despite what some people, who don't understand the question or the problem, are vigorously defending, this is not a question of Smarty using 2G, it's about bad actors being able to use 2G if you can't switch it off on your phone.
Same with the Pixel 7, Smarty requires 2G to be available
Your observation was entirely correct to make and the other commentators seem to have entirely missed the point/not understood the technical details. 2G networks due to the specification are highly vulnerable to attacks and the fact that Smarty (and it is them) have set up their carrier settings to remove the option to disable 2G on Pixels opens us up to 2G attacks by stingrays forcing devices to downgrade to their fake hijacked 2G network. The fact Smarty does not offer 2G is entirely irrelevant to this fact and people seem confused by this. Hopefully Smarty fix this in their next carrier settings update, otherwise you can go into hidden phone settings to disable the 2G antenna.
Hey
This option was available when I was using an O2 SIM. Underneath the toggle in the settings it says "SMARTY requires 2G to be available".
Really ? That’s odd, as Smarty’s parent company is Three, the first network in the UK to roll out a 3G network, and has never been compatible with 2G networks.
