This article was published on June 7, 2016

Samsung smartphone update fixes a flaw that allowed thieves to bypass security


Samsung smartphone update fixes a flaw that allowed thieves to bypass security

Samsung has given details of an update that it’s going to begin rolling out imminently which, along with rectifying a number of security issues detailed in an Android Security Bulletin yesterday, also fix Galaxy-range specific security weaknesses.

Top of the list for Samsung, according to the detail page, is a problem with the Factory Reset Protection (FRP) that allows an ‘attacker’ (more realistically, someone who has stolen the phone or bought a stolen handset) to bypass the security measures in place to prevent it from being reset.

The update is rolling out to Galaxy S7 series, S6 series and S5 series handsets, as well as the Note 5, Note 4 and Note 4 Edge. The A5x will also get the fix.

Along with four other Samsung-specific tweaks, the update also rolls in a bunch of required fixes announced yesterday by Google for various devices.

Via ZDNet

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