Categories: NewsTechnology

Mobile Chip Flaw Puts 60% of Android Devices At Risk of Being Hijacked

Despite the dominant market position Android holds in the mobile ecosystem, there are a fair amount of security flaws to worry about. One of the more recent vulnerabilities exposes as many as 60% of all Android devices in circulation, as Qualcomm’s mobile processor contains a worrisome flaw.

Combined Security Flaws Puts Android Users At Risk

What this particular Qualcomm mobile process vulnerability does is allow hackers to remotely take control over a targeted device assuming they can exploit a media server security hole at the same time.  While there are certain conditions to be met, as many as 60% of all Android device in the world are at risk of this attack. Unfortunately, this exploit can be used on all versions of the Android operating system, which is rather uncommon.

Although there are so many Android devices put at risk because of this exploit, the risk of getting exploited is relatively small. Attackers would have to distribute attack code through a malicious application, which has to be downloaded by users. This should limit the number of actual victims by a significant margin, as pulling off this exploit relies on factors beyond the control of the assailants.

Google issued a security patch for this same vulnerability, yet only deployed it to Nexus and OEM devices. However, a lot of carriers never sent this update to their customers since January of this year, which once again points out how fractured the mobile ecosystem is. Carriers have a responsibility to issue these patches to customers globally, yet it can take anywhere from one day to several months before this happens.

Related Post

At the same time, there are a lot of Android phones in circulation which will no longer receive official updates. Once again, this decision is made by the manufacturer, and not Google themselves. Duo researchers indicate close to 27% of all devices fall into this category, which makes them vulnerable to this exploit.

For users who do not receive official Android updates from their manufacturer anymore, the only solution is restricting access to third-party apps whenever possible, Mobile device management solutions is also an option, albeit it is not something most people may want to use. Flashing a custom ROM which does contain this update may be worth exploring as well for more tech-savvy users.

Source: Threatpost

Images credit 1,2

If you liked this article follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin and altcoin price analysis and the latest cryptocurrency news.

JP Buntinx

JP Buntinx is a FinTech and Bitcoin enthusiast living in Belgium. His passion for finance and technology made him one of the world's leading freelance Bitcoin writers, and he aims to achieve the same level of respect in the FinTech sector.

Share
Published by
JP Buntinx

Recent Posts

Best Altcoins to Invest in Today: Qubetics Sets the Stage for Blockchain’s Future as Bitcoin Hits $108K and Litecoin Soars

The cryptocurrency world has always been a hotbed of innovation, attracting both seasoned investors and…

4 hours ago

Dogecoin Millionaire Predicts This Undervalued Altcoin Could Match DOGE’s 2021 Gains

Dogecoin's 2021 rally was a historic one, turning ordinary investors into overnight millionaires. This magnificent…

4 hours ago

Qubetics Presale Skyrockets to $7.5M as XRP and Arbitrum Lead Best Altcoins for Exponential Returns

The crypto market is always evolving, with big names like Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the…

5 hours ago

Over 300K Users Actively Mine Crypto On BlockDAG’s X1 Miner App While BNB Bulls Eye $3K; What’s XRP’s Price Target?

The crypto market is ablaze with excitement as altcoins like XRP and BNB make major…

5 hours ago

Best Crypto Presale To Buy Now: Rollblock Delivers For Holders With New License, Record Sign Ups and 7000+ Games

Rollblock is quickly becoming the best crypto presale to buy, delivering unmatched value for its…

9 hours ago

Polkadot And Uniswap Gearing For Post-Christmas Jump As Rollblock Raises $7.4 Million in Presale

While Rollblock's continues its crypto presale, with its value increasing regularly, Polkadot (DOT) and Uniswap…

9 hours ago