The Secret Service uncovered a vast network of over 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers near New York City capable of causing widespread cell service disruption and potentially enabling criminal activities, highlighting a significant threat to national security and emergency communications.
The Secret Service discovered and seized a large illicit network near the U.N. headquarters, capable of disabling cellular networks and conducting encrypted communications, including over 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers, but there was no evidence it threatened the U.N. General Assembly meeting.
Investigations are underway into whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had prior knowledge of the October 7 Hamas attack, following reports that Israeli SIM cards were activated in Gaza before the assault. Allegations suggest these SIM cards, part of an espionage operation, were meant to warn of an impending attack. The prime minister's office denies prior knowledge, calling the claims a media witch hunt. The controversy includes accusations of document tampering and blackmail within the military secretariat.
Google is preparing a built-in eSIM conversion tool for Pixel phones, as physical SIM cards are gradually being replaced by digital eSIMs. The tool is expected to make it easier to convert from a physical SIM card to an eSIM when setting up a new phone, with the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3 update showing signs of this feature. This move aligns with the industry's shift towards eSIMs, which aims to reduce e-waste and simplify carrier switching.
Android is set to make it easier to switch between active SIM cards with the introduction of a new Quick Settings tile. Currently, users have to navigate through the Settings app to switch between SIMs, which can be time-consuming. Google has confirmed that this feature will be added in a future build of Android, allowing users to quickly switch between active SIMs for data purposes. The exact release date for this update is unknown, but it may be included in Android 14's QPR1 release.