2G cannot be disabled?

[GeorgeL_2609639]

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).

[Rebekah_150]

Hey  GeorgeL_2609639

SMARTY does not support 2G so it is not likely that this would be due to a SMARTY feature, are you receiving an error message that says it it is because of the carrier settings? 

[GeorgeL_2609639]

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".

[JJP2RidesAgain]

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. 

[GeorgeL_2609639]

Yes, this is the crux of my question, it seems there is a bug in the carrier settings. It won't affect anyone except the security-conscious, and even then only those that travel abroad.

But it would be good if it were fixed, if our understanding here is right.

[JJP2RidesAgain]

You have missed the point - Smarty’s parent company, Three, has never used a 2G network, so, even if there is a bug in carrier settings, which I would be surprised at, it doesn’t matter at all, as the Three network has never utilised a 2G network - It even got its name, Three, from the fact that it was the first 3G network in the UK.

If you have an old candy bar phone from the likes of Nokia, Alcatel or Mobiwire, stick your Smarty SIM card in it - You won’t get any network connectivity at all, as they are 2G phones, which Smarty SIM cards won’t connect to, as you need a phone with a minimum of 3G to connect to the Three network.

Read the article to which I have added the link.

In short, you are concerned / worrying about something which is impossible in the Three / Smarty network.

 https://help.smarty.co.uk/en/articles/952738-network-coverage 

[GeorgeL_2609639]

As long as there are 2G networks abroad then this setting being disabled is a problem. I guess I should not be surprised that there are network fans on these forums but your attitude is entirely unhelpful, seeing as you didn't even read my initial post properly about the context of my concerns.

I didn't come here to be patronised and I think you should reassess whether your attitude is actually making this place a welcoming environment.

[JJP2RidesAgain]

I have helped many people on this forum, having used Smarty in the past.

Have you ever thought that, because Smarty have never utilised a 2G network, that’s why you cannot block access to a 2G network that has never existed, and, in the unlikely event that you go abroad and use a rare network that is still using 2G, then you will be able to block it ? No, I doubt you have.

You can probably block O2, as mentioned in your initial post, as they still use a 2G network.

[Chris_137308]

Pro tip: You might want to read up on actual security concerns before making these kinds of posts. Oh, and maybe apologise to the poster for your, frankly ridiculous and slightly ironic, comments, which I'm sure you didn't mean like that, but then again, maybe shouldn't have posted.

https://www.howtogeek.com/google-encourages-users-to-disable-2g-connectivity/

https://www.ndss-symposium.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/practical-attacks-against-privacy-availabi...

[Paul_2598296]

Wow. You're supposed to be helping people, yet instead, you insult people and prove you cannot read. Nobody suggested that Smarty uses 2G. When you put a new SIM in your phone, your phone connects to the carrier, and the carrier sends back settings that allow the phone to function correctly. For some unknown reason, Smarty sends back settings which include the instruction that 2G must not be disabled. If you are an example of the people that work for Smarty, it is easy to see why such a stupid mistake has been made.

[Paul_2598296]

Wow. You're supposed to be helping people, but instead, you insult people and prove that you cannot read. Nobody suggested that Smarty uses 2G. In fact, it is common knowledge that they don't. However, when you connect to a mobile carrier for the first time, the carrier sends its settings to the phone, in order for the phone to function correctly. The Smarty network, for some unknown reason, instructs the phone that 2G must not be disabled. If you are an example of the type of people working for Smarty, it is easy to see why such a stupid mistake has been made.

[JJP2RidesAgain]

https://streetwave.co/mobile-networks/2g-switch-off-by-country-guide/ 

2G is also in the process of being switched off worldwide. See the link above.

[SmartyPixelUser]

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.

[Dronernator]

Same with the Pixel 7, Smarty requires 2G to be available

[Chris_137308]

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.

[SmartyPixelUser]

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!