What it is advisable to know
- Google has began rolling out its September 2024 safety patch to Pixel units starting from the Pixel 6 sequence to the most recent Pixel 9.
- The sunshine patch solves the acute Pixel vulnerability brought on by a Verizon demo app and a Wi-Fi concern for the Pixel 9 sequence.
- The vulnerability might’ve uncovered Pixel units to malware and spyware and adware viruses.
September is off to a quick begin for Google as the corporate has began rolling out its month-to-month safety replace.
Regardless of a light-weight September 2024 safety replace, Google is fixing two essential issues with its Pixel lineup. In keeping with the patch notes, the patch is rolling out for the Pixel 6 sequence as model AP2A.240905.003.F1. The Pixel 7, Pixel 8, the O.G. Fold, and the Pixel Pill will see model AP2A.240905.003 whereas the 8a sees an A1 tacked onto the top.
Pixel 9 customers will discover firmware model AD1A.240905.004.
Whereas this patch brings the same old safety enhancements, one main repair includes the removing of a “third-party APK to deal with safety vulnerability.” It is a main concern, as Google states the safety flaw affected its total past-gen line of units. The units this repair is for contain the Pixel 6 sequence as much as the Pixel 8.
The Pixel Fold and the Pixel Pill have been additionally affected and rectified.
Google’s remaining repair includes an odd Wi-Fi downside. The changelog particulars that the repair ought to right Wi-Fi “stability and efficiency.” These have been points that Pixel 9 sequence customers might have observed as their units arrived.
The publish states the replace is for all Android 14 units and can roll out “in phases.” Everybody will not see the patch concurrently as Google delivers it per machine and service.
Concerning the Pixel vulnerability, it was found in mid-August {that a} pre-loaded Verizon demo app contained a file that would expose a consumer’s machine to MITM (man-in-the-middle) assaults. The one saving grace is that the app (and the file by extension) remained dormant on Pixel telephones until they have been particularly enabled and granted permissions.
The Showcase.apk file was the wrongdoer, which might’ve given exterior threats a technique to “nearly inject” malware and spyware and adware onto your Pixel telephone.
With the Pixel 9’s Wi-Fi downside seemingly squared away, there’s nonetheless nothing additional concerning the unlocked bootloader points. Pixel 9 customers shortly found that unlocking the bootloader breaks lots of the new AI-powered options. Rooting the machine brought on comparable issues. Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, and the Pixel Climate app stopped working and displayed error messages.
The one technique to get issues working once more could be to lock and unroot the machine in query. It is an unlucky growth as unlocking the bootloader can convey a whole lot of good to customers who need it.
One Imaginative and prescient
Google’s Pixel 9 Professional XL is the most important of the smartphone trio with a 6.8-inch show and a barely greater battery. The bigger variant provides the identical nice “Professional” expertise, with the Gemini AI options to match. The machine has additionally acquired the most recent wave of Android options in September, taking the machine to a brand new degree of enjoyment.