ANDROID users have been urged to ensure their smartphone is up-to-date after a bunch of security vulnerabilities were uncovered.
Several have been given a “high” severity rating by experts.
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Cyber crooks are constantly looking for new ways to hack people’s devices.
Fortunately there are a load of experts on the hunt for any security loopholes that flag them before criminals have a chance to exploit.
Google, which owns Android, routinely puts out essential updates for the operating system when bugs and issues come to their attention.
In total, there are 51 various security flaws in Android which have now been fixed.
The tech giant says the most severe of these issues is a high security vulnerability known as a remote code execution, which basically means a hacker could meddle with your handset installing dubious software without needing physical access to the phone.
This can ultimately lead to things like spyware apps or malware designed to raid your accounts.
It’s always best to ensure you have automatic updates switched on so you receive any fixes immediately when they’re released.
And it’s even better practice to check manually yourself too.
You can do this by going to the Settings > Security and privacy > System and updates.
You should also ensure you have Google Play Protect switched on, as this will deal with dubious apps that come up.
To check yours, head to the Google Play Store app, tap on your profile icon and select Play Protect.
“These capabilities reduce the likelihood that security vulnerabilities could be successfully exploited on Android,” Google says.
MALWARE: WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR
Here’s Google’s official list of signs that you might have malware on your Android phone…
You may have malware on your device if:
- Google signed you out of your Google Account to help protect you from malware on your device.
- You notice suspicious signs on your device, like pop-up ads that won’t go away.
Device symptoms
- Alerts about a virus or an infected device
- Anti-virus software you use no longer works or runs
- A significant decrease in your device’s operating speed
- A significant, unexpected decrease in storage space on your device
- Your device stops working properly or working altogether
Browser symptoms
- Alerts about a virus or an infected device
- Pop-up ads and new tabs that won’t go away
- Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars keep coming back
- Your browsing seems out of your control, and redirects to unfamiliar pages or ads
- Your Chrome homepage or search engine keeps changing without your permission
Other symptoms
- Your contacts have received emails or social media messages from you, but you didn’t send the emails or messages.
