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It turns out that your smartphone could be an overlooked vulnerability that puts you at risk of being tracked. To combat this, Google is rolling out a new security feature in Android 16 that will warn users if their device is using a fake or insecure mobile network or if that network requests identifying information about a connected device.

However, these features likely won't be available until the next generation of Android devices, as first reported by Android Authority. Since the current Android devices lack the hardware to support these features, the first compatible Android device we could see with this tech may be the Pixel 10 that's expected to debut later this summer.

This feature is designed to counteract cell site simulators, or devices that act like a cell tower and trick nearby devices into connecting to it. Once connected, these simulators can glean sensitive information, like the location of a smartphone. These cell site simulators are better known by their commercial nickname, Stingray, and have been reportedly used by agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as Customs and Border Protection.

The upcoming security features are rolling out as part of the latest Android OS update, which was released earlier this month. Compatible devices will have the option to toggle "network notifications" on or off, which will warn you if your device connects to an unencrypted network or when the connected network requests your phone's unique identifiers. On top of that, there's another option that lets you turn on "2G network protection" to avoid the less secure mobile network type.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/android-16-will-protect-users-from-fake-cell-towers-and-potential-spying-threats-172337020.html?src=rss

The unending saga between President Donald Trump and TikTok may finally get some closure. In an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo, the US president announced that there's a buyer secured for TikTok.

"We have a buyer for TikTok by the way," Trump said in the interview. "I think I'll need probably China approval and I think President Xi [Jinping] will probably do it." When asked to identify the buyer, Trump only cryptically revealed that it was a "group of very wealthy people," which would be announced in "about two weeks."

Watch Part 3 of @MariaBartiromo's interview with @POTUS where they discuss the future of tariffs, A.I., TikTok, and green energy pic.twitter.com/B5u5S9iOF2— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) June 29, 2025

The uncertain fate of TikTok began when Trump signed an executive order to extend a deadline to ban the app from US-based app stores. The initial extension came shortly after Trump took office for his second term in January and was later pushed back another 75 days to April. The decision was delayed once again in June, but for an extra 90 days instead, for a new mid-September deadline. As the future of TikTok remains in a state of uncertainty, Trump said the extensions were "no big deal" during the interview with Fox News. More than 170 million active US users are awaiting a final decision on TikTok, which is developed by the Beijing-based ByteDance that's facing pressure to either sell its app or have it banned due to data privacy and "national security" concerns.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/trump-claims-a-very-wealthy-group-will-buy-tiktok-without-revealing-who-185126123.html?src=rss

I wouldn't call myself a flashy person, but when it comes to smart lighting, I'm prepared to go all-out. In my home, I'm using everything from standing lamps like Philips Hue's Signe gradient lamp and TV backlight to the Govee Table Lamp 2 to give my home lighting some pizzazz.Until recently, my setup included my beloved Nanoleaf black hexagon wall panels, which served both as traditional and immersive smart lighting when hooked up to my PC via the Nanoleaf Desktop app, in addition to the remote controls afforded by the mobile app. Unfortunately, my new digs don't afford me the wallspace for these, so I was excited to see if Nanoleaf's latest gaming release, the Pegboard Desk Dock, would suitably fill the RGB-shaped void in my life.Would that it were so simple.I didn't peg you as a quitterI'm in the throes of reviewing Nanoleaf's Pegboard Desk Dock, so this is far from a final verdict, but my early impressions tell a cautionary tale for all immersive lighting enthusiasts. This 3-in-1 smart light and desktop combo is an awesome concept; smartly designed, arriving with four hooks each, which can be arranged on the Pegboard to hold your gaming controllers, handheld PCs, and headsets. If you'd rather just have the Pegboard as a display piece, you can easily pull it out of the base and turn it around to show the rear light panel.For me, this was a dream product. I'm always looking for ways to optimize my desk space, especially since I downsized when moving home, and I love Nanoleaf's wider range of smart lights.So, after eagerly unboxing and setting up my new lights, I was eager to see my new setup in all its glory. Just watching the lights cycle through the colors of the rainbow before I'd even paired them with Nanoleaf's software was exciting enough.Unlike many of Nanoleaf's other products, however, the Pegboard can't be added to the Nanoleaf mobile app; it works exclusively within the Nanoleaf Desktop app, and that's where my first problem came in.While the lights' basic settings worked just fine when unpaired, as soon as I connected them to the app and tried to change their color output, they ceased to function, flashing on and off sporadically, rejecting any peripherals I plugged into the base and intermittently appearing as "Unreachable" within the Nanoleaf app.I'd thought it was perhaps because they needed more power, so I plugged in my power supply; no joy. The software also offers little troubleshooting for the problem, and with everything running smoothly until the point I tried to pair them, I've come up short trying to fix them myself. I've yet to contact Nanoleaf about the issue, which I'll surely do before I give my final verdict, and I'm more than certain that a resolution exists; however, my experience paints a broader picture of immersive smart home lighting challenges.(Image credit: Future)Bigger fish to fryI don't relish bemoaning the woeful state of smart home interoperability once again. The simple fact is, it's everyone's biggest problem, and that's not exclusive to smart lighting for the home; any smart home brand taking the walled garden approach, of which there are many, earns my ire in the age of Matter compatibility.Gaming lights, in particular, suffer. On my gaming laptop, I've got a plethora of RGB and smart light controlling apps; Logitech G Hub, HyperX NGENUITY, Corsair iCUE, Razer Chroma, and Nanoleaf being the ones I used for this setup.Now, some of these play nice with each other; namely, Nanoleaf links up to both Corsair iCUE and Razer Chroma, but that still leaves half of my peripherals setup disconnected. You're also at the mercy of software updates, which, especially if you use a hub app with multiple platforms connected to it, can make or break your setup.There's also the non-small issue of the software itself. Running these background apps, especially if you aren't able to whittle them down by integrating different platforms, can use a fair bit of CPU and RAM. Especially if you're playing on a more lightweight machine, that can end up being pretty detrimental for high-stakes gaming.Not all hope is lost when it comes to immersive smart lighting, though. Software like SignalRGB and OpenRGB goes a long way to mitigate compatibility problems, even if these are far from perfect. Still, things are heading in the right direction, just at a glacial pace – and if smart light makers want to light up the lives of gamers the world over, that will need to change to keep up with the sophisticated interfaces and experiences we're used to from our tech.Even when it comes to immersive lighting for the TV, you can bet things are never simple. Screen extending lighting is increasingly popular, yet your options these days are limited; splurge on a pricey Philips Ambilight TV, opt for the still-pricey Hue light strip and sync box (which requires HDMI input and thus won't work with cable TV or built-in Smart TV software) or opt for a product like Nanoleaf 4D or Govee Ambient TV backlight, which points a camera at your screen to detect the action, will invariably have some small input lag.My best advice? Stick with as many products from one light maker as possible, and for PC gaming, that will, in all likelihood, be a peripherals manufacturer with more focus on the RGB than the smart lighting of it all.Want to start your own smart lighting setup? Shop my favorites below! You might also like...I tested the wireless Nanoleaf Solar Garden Lights, and they're a fun way to light up your yard all night long3 cool things you didn't realize your Philips Hue lights could doI've been a tech journalist for over 10 years, and this window-cleaning robot is the most satisfying gadget I've ever tested

Apple's film studio finally has a successful summer blockbuster to its name with its latest sports drama flick starring Brad Pitt. F1 the Movie saw an opening weekend that earned $144 million globally and $55.6 million domestically, according to Comscore numbers. Apple Original Films' feature beat out other highly anticipated releases like the live-action remake, How to Train Your Dragon, and the third installment in the post-apocalyptic horror film series, 28 Years Later.

The action-drama movie follows Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, who's tapped to support an up-and-coming Formula One driver. With reports of the film costing up to $300 million to produce and market, F1 the Movie was a risky venture for Apple, considering the lackluster performances with its other films' opening weekends like Argylle and Fly Me to the Moon. However, Apple's film studio gamble paid off since the opening weekend numbers for F1 the Movie shattered its previous records and is projected to continue its momentum. Despite the early success, Apple may have inadvertently soured some of its users on the movie, thanks to shoving an advertisement for F1 the Movie into its Wallet app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apples-f1-laps-its-competition-with-a-144-million-opening-weekend-200030386.html?src=rss