PNG images: Google is known to release several security updates for Android. The most recent is the February 2019 update with fixes for around 42 bugs. Due to the size of the updates, many of you may have missed some in the past. There is a big reason why you should not skip these updates.
Among the 42 bugs, a critical vulnerability is being fixed, which had the potential to “destroy” your device. Let’s take a closer look at the problem.
Of course, nothing is perfect. Manufacturers often release updates to bring their devices to perfection. The same goes for the giant Google, of course.
The latest update fixed a fatal issue that affected several Android users. Essentially, the bug could have allowed a hacker to spread malware simply by sending an image in PNG format. Once users opened the image, the malware would activate and destroy everything.
The downside is that, so far, only Pixel devices have received the update and all other Android users will need to wait for the manufacturer of our device to act accordingly.
The reasonable question is: How do I stay safe when I'm an Android user without a Pixel?
- Do not open images from SMS or untrusted emails.
- Be sure to check the extension of each image and avoid PNG files. Opening a PNG file can lead to an automatic download of malware.
The vulnerability has been identified in three forms (CVE-2019-1986, CVE-2019-1987, and CVE-2019-1988). The good news is that the issue only affects devices running Android 7.0 and above.
Google, for its part, claims that there are no reports of the vulnerability so far. However, the security patch is necessary for everyone to install.
