Sunday, August 9, 2015

Evolution: The fight against "Stagefright" vulnerability that affects 95% of Android

Earlier last week, it came to light the discovery of a major security flaw in Android by Zimperium, a dangerous vulnerability in fact, "Stagefright", through which anyone with minimal knowledge, and really simple, can grab remotely from a terminal in minutes, without the user realize for a second. After rising to meet this gaping security hole, which affects 95% of active Android, companies got down to work to provide solutions quickly.


So, Google has already released a patch for the Google Nexus 5 and Google Nexus 6, and more important is whether it should support its new policy, with monthly updates. Luckily, Samsung has also joined the cause by adopting the same policy, and hours later also did the same LG. Motorola, meanwhile, has announced patches against "Stagefright" for its core smartphones, but for now has not committed to update monthly.

Google has even gone a step further, and although so far the support for its Nexus was two years from now extends for another year, so it will be three years. Devices that have been confirmed to receive monthly updates are the Google Nexus 4, Google Nexus 5, Google Nexus 6, Google Nexus 9 and Google Nexus 10, which remain outside the Google Nexus 7, although they receive the patch against "Stagefright" too.


Samsung and LG, meanwhile, have refused to confirm which devices fall into this policy, although we assume that will only be the best and latest of their ranks. Motorola, which as we said, has not said anything about monthly updates itself has given the list of smartphones that send the patch against this vulnerability.

Clearly, we must always look at the positive side of things. We can say that "Stagefright" has been a before and after in the Android security, as it has served for companies, including Google, put the batteries and we offer greater protection, we deserve all users. But unfortunately, not everyone can benefit. We know that this is a business, and ultimately the interests of a company are more important than the users themselves.

Evolution: The fight against "Stagefright" vulnerability that affects 95% of Android