What that you must know
- Google has began rolling out its September 2024 safety patch to Pixel gadgets starting from the Pixel 6 sequence to the newest Pixel 9.
- The sunshine patch solves the acute Pixel vulnerability brought on by a Verizon demo app and a Wi-Fi challenge for the Pixel 9 sequence.
- The vulnerability may’ve uncovered Pixel gadgets to malware and adware viruses.
September is off to a quick begin for Google as the corporate has began rolling out its month-to-month safety replace.
Regardless of a light-weight September 2024 safety replace, Google is fixing two essential issues with its Pixel lineup. Based on the patch notes, the patch is rolling out for the Pixel 6 sequence as model AP2A.240905.003.F1. The Pixel 7, Pixel 8, the O.G. Fold, and the Pixel Pill will see model AP2A.240905.003 whereas the 8a sees an A1 tacked onto the tip.
Pixel 9 customers will discover firmware model AD1A.240905.004.
Whereas this patch brings the same old safety enhancements, one main repair entails the removing of a “third-party APK to deal with safety vulnerability.” This can be a main challenge, as Google states the safety flaw affected its total past-gen line of gadgets. The gadgets this repair is for contain the Pixel 6 sequence as much as the Pixel 8.
The Pixel Fold and the Pixel Pill have been additionally affected and rectified.
Google’s closing repair entails an odd Wi-Fi downside. The changelog particulars that the repair ought to appropriate Wi-Fi “stability and efficiency.” These have been points that Pixel 9 sequence customers could have observed as their gadgets arrived.
The submit states the replace is for all Android 14 gadgets and can roll out “in phases.” Everybody will not see the patch concurrently as Google delivers it per machine and service.
Relating to the Pixel vulnerability, it was found in mid-August {that a} pre-loaded Verizon demo app contained a file that would expose a consumer’s machine to MITM (man-in-the-middle) assaults. The one saving grace is that the app (and the file by extension) remained dormant on Pixel telephones until they have been particularly enabled and granted permissions.
The Showcase.apk file was the wrongdoer, which may’ve given exterior threats a method to “just about inject” malware and adware onto your Pixel cellphone.
With the Pixel 9’s Wi-Fi downside seemingly squared away, there’s nonetheless nothing additional concerning the unlocked bootloader points. Pixel 9 customers rapidly found that unlocking the bootloader breaks most of the new AI-powered options. Rooting the machine brought about comparable issues. Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and the Pixel Climate app stopped working and displayed error messages.
The one method to get issues working once more can be to lock and unroot the machine in query. It is an unlucky improvement as unlocking the bootloader can deliver lots of good to customers who want it.
One Imaginative and prescient
Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL is the biggest of the smartphone trio with a 6.8-inch show and a barely larger battery. The bigger variant provides the identical nice “Professional” expertise, with the Gemini AI options to match. The machine has additionally obtained the newest wave of Android options in September, taking the machine to a brand new stage of enjoyment.