Author name: Glenn

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As a regular Pixel 10 user, should I use Advanced protection?

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As a regular Pixel 10 user, should I use Advanced protection?

To turn off 2G
Theft Detection Lock
Gemini searches

For most normal users, Google’s Advanced Protection is likely overkill and may be too restrictive. It is specifically designed for high-risk individuals—like journalists, activists, and politicians—who are targets of highly sophisticated, state-sponsored cyberattacks. 
Why You Should Probably Pass:
  • Blocks Sideloading: You will lose the ability to install or “sideload” apps from outside the official Google Play Store, which breaks open-source app stores. 
  • Strict App & Account Restrictions: It prevents unauthorized third-party apps from accessing your Google Account data. It also requires a physical security key or passkey for all logins, eliminating the convenience of standard passwords and basic two-factor authentication.
  • Aggressive Call Screening: Many users on Reddit forums note that the program’s automated spam filter can aggressively flag legitimate, important numbers (such as doctors’ offices or delivery drivers).
  • Inactivity Reboot: It enables a strict feature that forces your phone to fully reboot if it hasn’t been unlocked for 72 hours.

Who Should Use It:
If you are a public figure, handle highly sensitive corporate/financial data, or deal with confidential sources, the trade-off is worth it. It blocks the majority of phishing attempts and practically eliminates credential theft.
A Balanced Alternative
You don’t need Advanced Protection to keep a Pixel 10 secure. You can easily enable essential, individual security features—like Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and basic Safe Browsing in Chrome—without having to deal with the strict restrictions of Advanced Protection. You can explore Google’s dedicated security options via your device’s settings.
If you’d like to make your Pixel 10 more secure without fully committing to Advanced Protection, I can help you:
  • Enable individual security features like Theft Detection Lock and 2G protection.
  • Set up passkeys for better day-to-day account security.
  • Review standard privacy settings inside Android. 

Allow 2G

The “Allow 2G” toggle might appear to disappear after major Android version updates due to recent security enhancements and carrier-specific software changes. Instead of being removed, the feature is likely governed natively by broader security settings or overridden by your carrier.

To turn off 2G, should the switch be in the on or off position?

Phones vary; there are two possibilities.
First
  • Look for the toggle labeled “Allow 2G”.
  • Ensure the switch is grayed out / unselected (OFF).
  • This tells your phone to reject unsafe 2G connections. 

Or the alternative

If your setting is instead labeled “2G Network Protection”, you want that switch in the ON position to activate the defense. 
Theft Detection Lock
You can easily turn on your Pixel’s Theft Detection Lock, which uses AI and motion sensors to automatically lock your screen if someone snatches your phone and runs.
To enable it:
  1. Open your device’s Settings app.
  2. Tap Google, then All services.
  3. Select Theft protection.
  4. Turn on the toggle for Theft Detection Lock.
For complete security, you should also enable the Offline device lock in the same menu, which keeps your phone locked even if a thief tries to turn off your Wi-Fi or data. 
Below are the results of a few Google Gemini searches regarding the security feature of having 2G turned off on your phone.  There seems to be a number of inconsistencies.

Bottom line: check your settings after doing a major update.
Did the Android 17 update turn 2G back on if I had it disabled?
The update to Android 17 does not automatically re-enable 2G if you have it disabled. When the 2G cellular protection toggle was updated, Android officially preserved the state of your previous selection so your device-level security preference remained securely in place.
Note by Glenn: This is not what I found. I had 2G turned off, and I discovered after the Android 17 update that it had been turned back on.
If you want the advantages of this security feature of having 2G turned off, you might want to check the settings after updating to Android 17.
(Note: Emergency calls to 911 will still scan and connect to 2G networks regardless of this toggle.
Is there a way to permanently turn off 2G on my Android 17 phone?
Yes, you can turn off standard 2G connectivity on your Android 17 device, but it cannot be permanently disabled for emergency situations. Under the Android Open Source Project guidelines, the operating system will always override your settings and allow a connection to a 2G network if you dial 911 (or your local emergency number) and no other signal is available.
To turn off 2G for all daily, non-emergency data and voice traffic to protect yourself from cell-site simulator (Stingray) or smishing attacks, use the following methods:
Method 1: The Standard Settings Toggle
  1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Go to Network & Internet, then select SIMs.
  3. Locate your active SIM profile.
  4. Look for the Allow 2G toggle and switch it off.
(Note: Depending on your specific phone manufacturer—such as Samsung or Google Pixel—this toggle may also be housed under Settings > Security & privacy > Mobile network security.)
Method 2: The Android Dial Pad Code (Hardware Lock)
If your carrier has hidden or greyed out the standard 2G toggle menu, you can manually restrict your phone’s radio to only use modern networks:
  1. Open your phone’s default Phone/Dialer app.
  2. Type *#*#4636#*#* into the keypad.
  3. Select Phone Information from the hidden testing menu that appears.
  4. Locate the dropdown menu labeled Set Preferred Network Type.
  5. Select a combination that excludes “GSM” (which is 2G). For example, choosing NR/LTE will lock your phone entirely to 5G (NR) and 4G (LTE) networks.
Does the hardware lock turn off 2G for emergency services?
No, the dial pad menu “hardware lock” does not turn off 2G for emergency services. 
The underlying cell phone modem firmware and the Android operating system are strictly hardcoded to bypass all user-configured restrictions during an emergency. If you dial 911 (or your local emergency number), your device will immediately scan and connect to any available cellular network to complete the call—including a 2G network if it provides the only viable signal in that specific location. 
This override functions exactly like the standard settings toggle because:
  • Hardcoded Priority: Emergency calling triggers an immediate, forced override at both the operating system and hardware baseband (modem) levels.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Federal and international telecom laws mandate that a mobile device must use any available means to route an emergency call, regardless of preferred network configurations, network locks, or SIM card restrictions. 

Are you asking because you need to test emergency calling capabilities, or do you have general safety concerns about network vulnerabilities during an emergency?

Does the hardware lock prevent 2G from being enabled after an Android update?
No, the dial pad menu “hardware lock” will not prevent 2G from potentially being turned back on after a major Android update.
The hidden diagnostic menu (*#*#4636#*#*) changes variables in your phone’s temporary runtime memory. When you install a major system update (such as moving to Android 17), the operating system completely overwrites and reinstalls the core network and modem configuration files. 
The update process resets network configurations back to the carrier’s default firmware parameters, which almost always re-enables “GSM” (2G) in the preferred network type bitmask.
What Actually Keeps 2G Off During an Update?
If you want a setting that survives system updates, you must use Method 1 (The Standard Settings Toggle). 
According to the official Android Open Source Project Documentation, the operating system is explicitly designed to handle the user-facing 2G toggle differently than hidden developer settings:
  • Persistent Migration: If you turn off 2G using the official “Allow 2G” switch in your Settings menu, Android saves this choice directly to your user profile data. 
  • Preserved States: During a system update, Android is hardcoded to migrate your explicit user preferences forward. It will map your previous choice onto the new OS version, ensuring your 2G block stays active. 

The Bottom Line: If your carrier allows it, always use the Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Allow 2G toggle to ensure your protection survives an update. If you are forced to use the dial pad code because the toggle is hidden, you will need to re-enter the code and lock out GSM manually every time your phone finishes a system update. 
Would you like help checking if your specific phone model supports the permanent, update-resistant Settings toggle, or are you having trouble with the dial pad code resetting on you right now?

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