Samsung reveals next Android phone to receive free upgrade TODAY – and more are set to follow soon
SAMSUNG has issued a fresh security update that patches nearly 60 vulnerabilities which hackers could have used to break into phones.
It is currently available to download on seven devices. Check the full list below to see if your handset is eligible.
The July 2024 patch, dubbed One UI 6.1.1, protects phones against any software gaps that hackers can use to sneak in and steal information.
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, all Android vulnerabilities were privately disclosed to Google and Samsung, according to the published security notes.
Private disclosures are made when a cyber researcher – or bug catcher – finds the vulnerability themselves, and reports it directly to the company before it is exploited.
This means hackers have not had a chance to take advantage of the security holes before they are plugged.
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.
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.
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
Is my phone eligible for the update?
Few Samsung devices have received the update so far.
The Galaxy A55 became the first Samsung smartphone to receive the July 2024 update last week.
Samsung has not released a timeline of when specific phones will receive the update.
However, the following phones are now able to download the security patch:
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy S24+
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Galaxy S21
- Galaxy S21+
- Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Galaxy A55
To download the update, open Settings > Software Update > Download or Install.
Other Samsung owners will have to wait for the update to be ready on their phone.
If your phone was able to download the One UI 6.1 update, then it will most likely be eligible to install the One UI 6.1.1 software.