Problems regarding open-sourced software is the potential for its code to be exploited by anyone familiar with the computing language necessary to program it. This is very true for Android and its OEM’s due to the difficulty to standardise and maintain its OS. A new kink in the armour of Android is labelled as Stagefright, and it’ll bug-out 2.2 Froyo and all newer version of the OS
Luckily, the problem has now been mediated and an update over-the-air fixes is now out through the various OEMs and carriers. Although hastily reacting to this on this occasion, Google also promised to quickly resolve any future problems in their front-lining Nexus line. They’ll be doing this by releasing monthly security updates together with their usual platform updates.
Users who currently own the following Nexus models can rest assured that a security patch will reach you soon: Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, Nexus 10 and the Nexus Player. Quoting Google on security updates, the security updates will continue to come for 3 years from the beginning of first availability or 18 months from the last time a device appears on the Google Store.
Jumping aboard in the fight against software manipulation is Samsung. The Korean manufacturer has pledged to do the same with their own monthly security update to address vulnerabilities. Aimed at fast tracking patches as they are uncovered, Samsung plans to relay the updates with the same over-the-air method “regularly about once per month”.
You can read more about StageFright here.
