Google has issued patches to up to 50 Pixel software vulnerabilities, many of which are "critical" or "high" in severity. The tech giant noted one flaw "may be under limited, targeted exploitation."
The vulnerabilities impact Pixel phone software and firmware. The high-severity privilege elevation hole, CVE-2024-32896, might allow a hacker to obtain deeper system access.
According to Forbes, although unlikely to allow a remote attack, these flaws might be exploited in a chain attack with other exploits to compromise important data and credentials. A recent analysis details 90 fraudulent Google Play apps with over 5.5 million installations, highlighting Android vulnerability.
The 2024-06-05 fix will be applied to all compatible Google devices. All consumers should accept these device upgrades, the firm said, as reported by Gizmodo.
Google Pixel owners are strongly advised to upgrade their software to secure their devices due to the severity and number of problems. Install the fixes by navigating to Settings > Security & Privacy > System & Updates > Security Update and clicking Install. Updates need a device restart. Google lists compatible Pixel devices and more on its website.
Google Pixel Updates Announced
This development comes after Google announced its Pixel 8 and 8a Gemini Nano AI model earlier this week reported by TechTimes. The update includes Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a Display Port connection, reverse phone number lookup for unknown numbers, Pixel Watch 2 fall and crash detection, and Pixel tablet doorbell notifications.
A June Google Pixel feature drop will provide developers with an AI model. However, Google has not released the details of the AI model's features.
The update includes Finding My Device on the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a can now detect a turned-off device for 23 hours even when the phone is empty.
Older, cheaper Pixel phones are gaining additional features like the call log, which now allows reverse phone number searches for incoming calls. Pixel Fold, Pixel 6, and subsequent models will feature this upgrade.
Moreover, the Google June Pixel feature drop increased HDR+ photo compatibility on Pixel 6 and subsequent smartphones, automatically selecting the best shot for "best moment" identification. Only the Pixel Fold and Pro editions of the Pixel 6, 7, and 8 will feature manual lens selection while shooting.
Google Still a Niche Player in The Smartphone Industry
Most major smartphone markets have fewer than 5% Google devices as their main phones. A recent report from Statista showed that 5.5% and 4.5% of smartphone users in Canada and the U.S. use Google Pixel phones. The first half of 2023 saw Google ship 2.6 million smartphones in North America, while Apple delivered 35 million iPhones, according to Canalys.
Apple relies more on smartphone sales than Alphabet, Google's parent firm. Advertising contributed to approximately 80% of Alphabet's income in 2023, while hardware, Google Play, YouTube subscriptions, and other services made up about 11%. In fiscal 2023, the iPhone alone contributed to almost 50% of Apple's sales, showing contrasting priorities of the two tech goliaths.
