Quadrooter Android Security: How To Protect Nexus, HTC, BlackBerry OnePlus, Samsung Devices Against Threat

First Posted: Aug 11, 2016 09:42 PM EDT
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Android smartphones and tablets face risk from a new security vulnerability that affects Samsung, Google and HTC leading products. Just recently, Android users were urged to update security protections following the warnings of the wide-ranging vulnerability dubbed as "Quadrooter."

"Quadrooter" makes Android devices vulnerable from hackers, affecting up to 900 million devices today. These include flagship devices such Google's Nexus 5X and 6P, HTC One, BlackBerry Priv, OnePlus 3 and some versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Computer World reported.

The security firm, Checkpoint, discovered that many Android devices integrated with Qualcomm processors were affected. "Quadrooter" affects the software that handles graphics as well as the code that lets different parts of the phone communicate with each other. By hijacking the latter system, criminals may control a number of device parts until they are able to take over the totality of the phone.

Qualcomm, who currently supply chipsets for around 80 percent of the world's leading Android and Windows devices, said that its priority is to provide robust security and privacy in its technologies. The company have provided patches available for all four vulnerabilities to customers, partners and the open source community between April and July. These patches were posted on CodeAurora while QTI continues to work with security researchers to identify and address the potential security vulnerabilities, BGR reported.

Meanwhile, Checkpoint released a free scanner app available on the Google Play store  that allows Android users to check if their device is vulnerable for them to download patches for the problems. Reports claim that Android devices have suffered major security issues recently as hackers target the world's most popular mobile software.

Android devices faced the "Stagefright" attack last year that affected nearly a billion Android devices across the world. "Stagefright" allowed criminals to access a victim's device in just a text message. However, Google claims that the newest version of its Android devices, set to be released later this year, will cover a number of security upgrades, including built-in defenses against ransomware attacks.

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