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Privacy Cell

Verify that a phone is using the most secure cell protocols.
New in version 1.10
• Create an optional monochrome icon (can be used in Android >= 13).
• Allow Privacy Cell to be included in system backups.
• Bump the target API to 34 (Android 14).
• Document permissions needed for newer versions of Android.
• Repopulate the realtime monitoring notification every 15 minutes.
Privacy Cell is a small app that displays the cell phone protocol information.

At the time of this writing, many cell phone networks are switching from 4G (4th Generation) to 5G networks. The 5G network protocols were specifically designed to protect against some of the known insecurities of the older protocols, including those that allowed stingrays (IMSI catchers) to perform man-in-the-middle attacks on cell phone networks. To ease deployment and backwards compatibility, 4G and 5G networks can run together in what is known as 5G NR (New Radio) NSA (Non-Standalone) mode. This uses the 4G network for the control channel and the 5G network for the data communication. However, 5G NR NSA does not provide protection against stingrays. Android has access to all the information it needs to know if it is connected to a 5G NR NSA or a 5G NR SA (Standalone) network, but it doesn’t display that information to the user. The purpose of Privacy Cell is to make that information easy to access.

Privacy Cell can also warn you when you are connected to antiquated 2G and 3G networks.

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Versions

Although APK downloads are available below to give you the choice, you should be aware that by installing that way you will not receive update notifications and it's a less secure way to download. We recommend that you install the F-Droid client and use that.

Download F-Droid
  • Version 1.10 (12) suggested Added on Nov 07, 2023

    This version requires Android 11 or newer.

    It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • run foreground service with the type "specialUse"
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services with the type "specialUse"
    • show notifications
      Allows the app to show notifications
    • read phone status and identity
      Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
    • run at startup
      Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
    • com.stoutner.privacycell.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 2.9 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

  • Version 1.9 (11) - Added on Dec 07, 2022

    This version requires Android 11 or newer.

    It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • show notifications
      Allows the app to show notifications
    • read phone status and identity
      Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
    • run at startup
      Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.
    • com.stoutner.privacycell.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION

    Download APK 2.9 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log

  • Version 1.8.1 (10) - Added on Aug 11, 2022

    This version requires Android 11 or newer.

    It is built by F-Droid and guaranteed to correspond to this source tarball.

    Permissions
    • run foreground service
      Allows the app to make use of foreground services.
    • read phone status and identity
      Allows the app to access the phone features of the device. This permission allows the app to determine the phone number and device IDs, whether a call is active, and the remote number connected by a call.
    • run at startup
      Allows the app to have itself started as soon as the system has finished booting. This can make it take longer to start the phone and allow the app to slow down the overall phone by always running.

    Download APK 3.2 MiB PGP Signature | Build Log