Samsung Galaxy users have been eagerly awaiting critical updates first announced in early July, and while some fixes have been deployed, the most essential update is still missing. The July update has been issued for a few devices, including the S24, but it’s only recently that a wider range of S22s and S21s received their fixes. However, the monthly update schedule still remains somewhat of a lottery, varying by model, region, and carrier, resulting in a gap compared to iPhone and Pixel devices.
The update addresses four critical Android security issues, with three of them being delayed from June and focusing on shoring up security on Qualcomm hardware. Samsung warns users that third-party hardware updates may be delayed, unlike Google who appears to release them more efficiently. The fourth critical update impacting Android’s core framework was released alongside Android updates. However, there’s still no information on when Galaxy devices can expect fixes for CVE-2024-32896, an actively exploited vulnerability that prompted warnings for Pixel users in June.
Despite Google confirming that CVE-2024-32896 impacts the Android platform beyond Pixel devices, there has been no official confirmation or update from Samsung regarding the fix for this vulnerability. Another vulnerability, CVE-2024-29745, has been fixed for Pixels but not Galaxy smartphones. Google can’t patch devices beyond its own, so OEMs like Samsung need to address these vulnerabilities on their devices individually. With Pixel users already a month ahead in terms of security updates, Samsung faces a risk of losing ground to Pixel in terms of security and privacy.
As Pixel devices continue to advance and new Pixels and iPhones are set to launch, the premium smartphone segment is about to see increased competition. Users spending a significant amount on flagship devices will expect transparency, security, and privacy to be prioritized. In the meantime, Samsung users should ensure they update their devices as soon as the July release is available. Updates on the fixes for the remaining security issues that will bring Galaxy devices on par with Pixel devices will be provided when available.
