What you have to know
- Google has launched its anticipated February safety patch to Pixel units starting from the Pixel 6 sequence to the Pixel 9.
- This gentle patch gives audio and Bluetooth fixes, however it should deliver an answer to the worrying zero-day exploit Google not too long ago detailed.
- February additionally holds a number of updates for the Play Retailer and Play Companies that customers will slowly obtain.
- Google highlighted {that a} zero-day exploit noticed a “restricted” and “focused exploitation” on Android, which precipitated OS instability.
Google is kicking off February with a number of updates throughout its Pixels, Play Retailer, and Android techniques.
To start, Google posted its patch notes for the February 2024 safety updates for its line of Pixel units. This month’s safety patch will arrive for units starting from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 9 sequence (together with its Fold and Pill) as model AP4A.250205.002 globally.
This month’s patch notes are comparatively gentle. Google states its Pixel units will fixes for “audio output in Android Auto below sure situations.” In keeping with its changelog, this repair includes each eligible Pixel system for the February patch.
Moreover, the patch brings the next Bluetooth repair: “sometimes stopping reference to sure Bluetooth units or equipment.” Google says this was a difficulty totally on the complete Pixel 9 sequence, which means these customers ought to now discover aid.
These with a Pixel system below T-Cellular will see vAP4A.250205.002.C1 for the Pixel 9 sequence. Pixel 7 units as much as the Pixel 9 below Telstra will discover vAP4A.250205.002.B2 and the Pixel 6 sequence in EMEA will discover vAP4A.250205.002.A1.
In different information, Google detailed its wave of early February updates on a help web page, which begins by highlighting a few updates for the Play Retailer (through 9to5Google). The changelog states there’s an replace rolling out for “Pill pQuality” titled “model 3.” Google says this patch “updates the system to guage the app high quality on tablets and ChromeOS units.”
There are additionally a number of UI updates on deck for the Play Retailer for customers making a Recreation Profile. These updates are reportedly arriving for Android telephones as v44.8 of the Play Retailer.
A number of updates are arriving for Play Companies, which could be seen under.
- [Developers – Auto] New developer options for Google and third-party app builders to help machine studying and AI-related processes of their apps.
- [Account Management – Phones] With the brand new entry level for Household Hyperlink in Google Settings, now you can handle your loved ones group extra simply.
- [Utilities – Phones] New developer options for Google and third-party app builders to help utilities-related processes of their apps.
- [Connectivity – Phone, TV, Wear OS, Auto] Bug fixes for system connection-related companies.
- [Connectivity – Phone] With this new characteristic, you may proceed your Fast Share transfers over Wi-Fi or cell knowledge even when the sender or receiver loses direct connection.
One necessary word to bear in mind is that this February safety patch ought to sort out a essential zero-day Android exploit. The corporate not too long ago detailed that the problem, marked as CVE-2024-53104, assaults the Android OS at its Linux kernel and provides the attacker free rein to hurt your system, inflicting instability. Early on, there have been reportedly “indications” of this being an actual menace, thus the repair that is rolling in for February.
Google acknowledged that the issue was “restricted” and noticed “focused exploitation,” however that is nonetheless one thing customers ought to concentrate on. Proceed to test your Pixel system — and different Android units as this plagues all — for the repair.
