Google Makes Pixel 10 Modem Safer With Rust Code

Your phone's modem has been a hacker's dream target, but Google just changed the game with a clever security upgrade in the Pixel 10.

Smartphone modems run on old C and C++ code that's vulnerable to remote attacks. Google's own security team proved hackers could break into Pixel phone modems over the internet, accessing the device's most fundamental systems without the user ever knowing.

The problem isn't simple to fix. Companies have spent decades building modem software based on industry standards, creating mountains of technical code that can't just be deleted. Plus, modems need to work in real time to handle calls and data, which means the code has to be lightning fast.

Google found a brilliant middle ground. Instead of rewriting everything, the team added a protective layer using Rust, a programming language that stops hackers from exploiting memory vulnerabilities. Rust checks for security holes before the code even runs, making it nearly impossible for attackers to sneak through.

The team focused on DNS, the system that helps your phone connect to websites and services. It's a major entry point for attacks because it constantly processes data from untrusted sources. By wrapping the DNS parser in Rust code, Google created an unbreakable barrier against malicious attacks.

The upgrade added just 371KB to the modem, a tiny amount that doesn't slow anything down. Now when hackers try to manipulate memory through DNS packets, they hit a Rust wall that shuts them down completely.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just good news for Pixel owners. Google is sharing its approach so other phone makers can protect their devices too. The company envisions a future where more and more of the modem's vulnerable code gets replaced with memory-safe alternatives.

Security researchers had found over two dozen serious vulnerabilities in phone modems in recent years. While those specific holes got patched, everyone knew more were hiding in the complex code. This Rust solution doesn't just patch holes, it prevents entire categories of attacks from working at all.

The Pixel 10 is the first phone to ship with this protection, marking a real turning point in mobile security.