THE Samsung update that patches up nearly 60 cyber flaws is finally being rolled out to more phones.
It is currently available to download on seven Galaxy devices. Check the full list below to see if your handset is eligible.
The July 2024 security patch, dubbed One UI 6.1.1, fixes several backdoor routes that hackers can use to break into people’s phones and access their data.
There are 58 vulnerabilities that have been fixed, including 25 that affect all Android devices and 33 that impact Samsung phones specifically.
Of the 25 Android flaws, four are “critical” issues, and the rest have been categorised as “high” risk.
Fortunately, none of the vulnerabilities were exploited by hackers before they were discovered, according to the published security notes.
Instead, cyber researchers – or bug catchers – found the vulnerabilities and privately disclosed them to Samsung, usually for a ‘finders fee’.
What are the security flaws?
One “high” risk security flaw impacted One UI Home, the app that lets users customise their home screen.
The flaw, discovered more than a year ago, allowed hackers “improper access control” in the app.
However, user interaction was required to trigger this vulnerability, making it harder for hackers to exploit.
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Another “moderate” security gap affected Samsung’s Secure Folder, which is used to store private photos, videos, files and apps behind a passcode or biometric lock.
The bug allowed “physical attackers to bypass authentication” under certain conditions.
It’s unclear what these conditions are. However, user interaction was, again, required to exploit this bug.
Is my phone eligible for the update?
The Galaxy A55 became the first Samsung smartphone to receive the July 2024 update last week.
Earlier this week, Galaxy S21 series phones also received the update.
The latest phone to receive the update is the Galaxy A14 5G.
Only eight Samsung devices have received the update so far, including:
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy S24+
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Galaxy S21
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Galaxy A55
- Galaxy A14 5G
To download the update, open Settings > Software Update > Download or Install.
Samsung – a brief history
Here’s what you need to know…
- Samsung is a major South Korean company made up of many businesses that operate globally
- It’s known locally as a “chaebol”, which means “business conglomerate”
- It was founded by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as a trading company
- But over several decades, it branched out into food processing, insurance, textiles and retail
- It wasn’t until the late 1960s when Samsung entered the electronics industry – for which it’s best known in the West today
- It also launched businesses in construction and shipbuilding in the 1970s
- Today, Samsung’s most important sources of income are its smartphones and computer chips
- The firm accounts for around a fifth of South Korea’s total exports, and roughly 17% of the country’s GDP
- More than 270,000 staff are employed by Samsung globally
- And in 2023, Samsung Electronics turned over the equivalent of $194 billion in revenue
