In the News
If you’re setting up automatic updates for your phone, your patched and ready to go, right? Answer: maybe. In How Android Phones Hide Missed Security Updates From You, Andy Greenberg discusses research conducted in regard to Android smartphone manufacturers and their inconsistent patching. Greenberg discusses the alarming number of updates that are either delayed by months or pushed out with multiple missing patches…and manufacturers’ tendency to obscure this fact by making the phone report that they are fully up to date.
Our Take
Given the number of sensitive activities we use our smartphones for these days, the need to secure each device is ever more pressing. Updates are vital to ensure that your device has the current level of protection needed to run effectively and safely. If manufacturers are patching late or not at all, it may leave your device vulnerable to malware or data leakage. This is particularly important on Android phones, which allow users a greater amount of control over installation and running of apps–even potentially untrusted ones–than iPhone users have.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your your profile and information?
- Make sure that you add multiple layers of security to your devices: turn on encryption where possible, use a passcode, and do not auto-login to sensitive apps
- Wherever possible, look for apps that are put out by known companies, require restricted permissions, and have been downloaded and reviewed by large numbers of people
- Watch out for in-app ads, which may take advantage of accidental clicks or thumb movements to launch browsers and other potentially malicious materials
- Consider using an app that tracks the updates that your phone receives such as SnoopSnitch