ANDROID owners have been urged to download a new security patch that fixes 11 bugs – one of which lets hackers spy on you.
Google has released a security update for Pixel owners, dated 2024-09-01, that both “high” and “critical” vulnerabilities.
Last month, an inactive piece of software inside all Pixel handsets was found to make phones “accessible to hackers and ripe for man-in-the-middle attacks, code injection, and spyware,” according to cybersecurity firm iVerify.
The risk was enough that Palantir, a US software giant, banned Android devices across the company, The Verge reported.
At the time, Google said it had “seen no evidence of any active exploitation”.
However, the issues has since been fixed, alongside another that improves Wi-Fi stability and performance on Pixel phones.
Bigger and better software upgrades are coming in October, when Google is thought to be rolling out Android 15.
Android 15 was released to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) this week.
Yet it will be a few more weeks until it’s ready for Pixel hardware.
The major software update includes 12 brand new features, like camera controls, satellite support and improved privacy and security features.
By Millie Turner, Senior Technology & Science Reporter
Android 15, Google’s biggest software update of the year, is expected to haul in six new privacy and security features, such as:
Malicious app blocking – Which stops scammers from using an overlay on an app icon to disguise it as another, more legitimate, application.
Private space – Which lets users create a separate space on their device where they can keep sensitive apps under a passcode, or bio-authentication like Face ID.
Partial screen record & sharing – Means you don’t have to show the contents of your entire screen while screen recording or sharing.
Theft Detection Lock – If the device detects that someone has stolen it and tries to run, bike, or drive away, your phone senses that motion and should immediately lock the screen.
The feature will also automatically lock the device if it detects suspicious activity, like constant attempts to disconnect your phone or various failed log-in attempts.
AI in Play Protect – Artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed in Google’s Play Protect antivirus feature to scan and flag suspicious behaviour.
Hidden notifications – Messages containing one-time passwords (OTPs), which are used in two-factor authentication, will be hidden from the notifications system, making it harder to intercept them.
The features intend to make sure that your images, conversations and banking apps remain for your eyes only.
But as this month’s security patch signals, gaps in the cyber net can and do emerge.
While Google is pretty quick to fix issues as they arise, the upcoming Android 15 features can act as an extra line of defence.
Features like Private Spaces and Hidden Notifications mean that, even if hackers do access an Android device, there are other hurdles to stop them snooping on sensitive material.
The September 2024 security patch has already begun rolling out to the following Pixel devices:
After the August 2024 update, the Pixel 5a stopped receiving updates.
Other Android devices, such as Samsung phones, will receive the update in the coming weeks.
Get the most out of your Android smartphone with these little-known hacks:
