The main topic of the article is the importance of keeping devices updated with the latest security patches.
Key points:
1. Many devices stop receiving security updates, leaving them vulnerable to exploits.
2. Options for continuing to use unsupported devices include installing custom ROMs or being extremely cautious.
3. The best solution is to buy a new phone that is supported by regular security updates.
August has seen a flurry of patches released by technology giants like Microsoft, Google Chrome, and Firefox to fix serious vulnerabilities. These patches are crucial as some of the flaws are already being exploited in attacks. While there was no iPhone update from Apple, major fixes were released for enterprise software, including Ivanti, SAP, and Cisco. Microsoft's Patch Tuesday fixed numerous vulnerabilities, including ones being actively targeted. Google Chrome also issued updates, addressing high impact flaws in V8 and WebRTC. Firefox patched various vulnerabilities, some of which could lead to arbitrary code execution. Lastly, Google patched several critical vulnerabilities in its Android operating system, including RCE issues in System and Media Framework.
Google has rebranded Android with a new logo and updates, including AI enhancements for widgets and accessibility tools, the ability to upload library cards to Google Wallet, and improved conference call capabilities in Android Auto.
Google has postponed the release of the stable Android 14 update to early October 2023, which will coincide with the launch of the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and the Pixel Watch 2 at the Made By Google event. This delay may also affect other smartphone brands, including Samsung and OnePlus, who may have to postpone their respective Android 14 updates.
Google has released Android 14 Beta 5.3 with bug fixes for Pixel devices, indicating that the stable release may be delayed.
Samsung has released the September 2023 security update for the Galaxy S23 series, which fixes 62 security flaws but does not bring any new features or performance improvements.
Android's September 2023 system updates will include better support for using a PIN with the FIDO2 security standard, along with improvements to Google Wallet and the introduction of a new settings page on the Play Store.
Google has released a security patch for the Pixel Watch, with the next major update expected to bring Wear OS 4 and new features in October 2023.
Google has released emergency security updates for Chrome to address a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2023-4863) that has been exploited in attacks, urging users to update their browsers to prevent further exploitation.
Summary: Microsoft's September 2023 Patch Tuesday includes security updates for 59 flaws, featuring two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities.
Samsung has released the September 2023 security update for its latest foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, in Europe, fixing over 60 security vulnerabilities.
A security issue in Android allows access to credit card details through NFC devices, but Google is actively delivering a fix in the September 2023 security patch.
Google has announced that it will provide a decade of service updates for recent model Chromebooks, in response to pressure from right-to-repair campaigners and the need to reduce environmental waste.
Samsung has released a new security patch for its Galaxy devices in September 2023, addressing critical and high-security vulnerabilities.
Google has released the September update for its Pixel devices running Android 13, which mainly consists of security patches.
Google has ended software support for the non-5G version of the Pixel 4a, meaning it will no longer receive updates and Android 13 will be its final software version.
Google's next major OS upgrade, Android 14, is being delayed until October, with the beta program for Android 14 QPR1 now available and the official debut expected in December as the Pixel Feature Drop.
Apple has released a new security update for iPhones, iPads, and other devices to protect against three vulnerabilities, following a previous update released earlier this month.
The Galaxy A54, Samsung's feature-packed mid-range phone, is receiving an update with the September security patch, providing improved security but no other new features or improvements until it receives Android 14 and One UI 6.0.
Samsung has begun rolling out the September 2023 security update for carrier-locked versions of the Galaxy S21 series phones in the US, offering over 60 vulnerability fixes without any new features or performance enhancements.
Google's upcoming Pixel 8 line of smartphones may receive up to seven years of Android updates, surpassing Samsung and potentially offering five years of Android updates and two years of security patches.
Google has released emergency security updates to patch a zero-day vulnerability in Chrome that has been exploited in spyware attacks, with the vulnerability caused by a heap buffer overflow weakness in the VP8 encoding of the libvpx video codec library.
Google is expected to release Android 14 on October 4th, the same day as the Pixel 8 launch event, according to Telus, with the update coming to a range of Pixel devices.
Samsung is releasing the September 2023 security update to several smartphones including the Galaxy A13, Galaxy A21s, and Galaxy M02 in various countries, providing more than 60 security fixes without introducing new features or performance improvements.
Google has released Android 14, bringing new features such as AI-generated wallpapers, passkeys for third-party apps, monthly reminders for data-sharing, and camera flash notifications to supported devices.
The Galaxy A54 5G from Verizon in the USA has received the October 2023 update, which includes the latest security patch and improves Wi-Fi security.
This year, both Apple and Google are in a close race to see who can make the most incremental updates for their phones.
Google's commitment to providing seven years of software updates for its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones highlights the lack of sufficient software support in most Android phones, and as customers keep their phones longer, longer upgrade periods are needed to keep them up to date with new features and security protections.
Samsung is considering extending its security update support for its devices beyond the current five years, in response to Google's announcement of seven years of updates for the Pixel 8 series, showcasing Samsung's impressive track record of providing timely security patches to over 150+ Galaxy devices and updating over a billion devices monthly.
Samsung is considering offering more than five years of security updates in response to new regulations, potentially surpassing its current update policies and competing with Google's recent promise of seven years of OS and security updates for Pixel phones.
Samsung is rolling out its October security patch to address vulnerabilities in One UI, with a focus on backend fixes and addressing critical vulnerabilities and Android weaknesses, and the update is being released for various Galaxy devices including the Galaxy S series, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip series, and Galaxy A/M/F series.
Samsung has expanded the rollout of the October 2023 security update to its mid-range smartphones, with the Galaxy A52s receiving the latest update, which focuses on fixing vulnerabilities.
Samsung has released the October 2023 security update for the Galaxy S23 series smartphones in Europe and India, with global release expected in the next few days, and the update includes the October 2023 security patch to fix vulnerabilities in the previous software version.
Samsung has released the October 2023 security update for the Galaxy S20 FE, providing new security fixes for various vulnerabilities.
Apple has released security updates for older iPhones and iPads to address two zero-day vulnerabilities that were exploited in attacks, including privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution flaws.
Samsung has released the October 2023 security update for the Galaxy S20 FE and S20 FE 5G in Asia and Europe, with other regions expected to receive the update soon.
Samsung is rolling out the October 2023 security update for the Galaxy S21 FE in Europe, fixing security flaws but not bringing any new features.
Google is updating Play Protect to include real-time scanning at the code level, aiming to detect emerging threats and protect Android users against malicious apps that can change their identifiable features in order to avoid detection.
