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OverblownGOOGLE HAS RELEASED a patch designed to fix a potential security issue but claimed that it isn’t as serious as first suggested.
Security company Perception Point found an issue in the Linux kernel, the core of its Android operating system, which would have allowed attackers a way to take over a device.
It said the flaw had “implications for approximately tens of millions of Linux PCs and servers as well as 66% of Android devices“, but there was no evidence that the flaw had been exploited by anyone.
However, Google responded to the report by saying the number of devices that are affected isn’t as great as claimed, and how it didn’t have the usual 90-day window to investigate the flaw before it was publically released.
“Since this issue was released without prior notice to the Android Security Team, we are now investigating the claims made about the significance of this issue to the Android ecosystem,” said Adrian Ludwig of Android’s security team. “We believe that the number of Android devices affected is significantly smaller than initially reported”.
Ludwig said that both its Nexus devices and Android devices with Lollipop (5.0) or greater are safe since they are protected by SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), a security measure that prevents third-party apps from accessing a device’s code. That amounts to a third of all Android devices released (33.3%).
He also said that “many devices running Android 4.4 (KitKat) or earlier do not contain the vulnerable code introduced in Linux kernel 3.8,” suggesting that most Android devices are safe.
Despite that, Google has released a patch that will be implemented on newer Android devices. It’s expected to arrive after 1 March.
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“Roll up and see for yourselves how copy and paste works in journalism!”
@James Groden: watch as we delete all comments that don’t agree with our opinion and in some cases don’t allow comments at all!
Watch as we slightly reword Government press releases on various subjects where the public are told to get back in our boxes and do what we’re told and then turn the comment section off, because we don’t don’t want any dissenting voices.
Watch as we shut down the comment section when too many comments go against the narrative.. Breaking News! “Ten People killed in overnight raids in Gaza” Yea shut down comments on that one, as we don’t want People giving out about Israel.. Journalists my ar_se
In the past few weeks statements made by government Minister’s, the comment section has been closed. The taking down of comments that contain no personal or unacceptable comment but would have been critical of government have been removed. Bit hypocritical of the Journal.
@William slevin: respond to what? your mas ravings? No point. At this stage I pity you.
@establishment loyalist fascist lil joey:
I didn’t ignore it no offence I forgot about it…also its not a priority to reply to every reply you make to me which is alot…
But I think it was about the 70 year old assaulted in clare? I don’t know the circumstances of the assault but I’m guessing your employing it was done by anti mass immigration protestors….do you have proof of this? But let’s say it’s true I have no idea….I abhor violence against anyone unless its done for defensive reasons….if this 70 year old man was attacked by one of the protestors….then I would condemned such an attack as that infringes on the right of the 70 year old not to be assaulted for no reason…
So I would condemn such an attack
@William slevin: why willie and leave your mad raving influence others wrongly. Like your support for the protest in Clare….you know the one….I asked for your view of what happemed there on Sunday…and you ignored my question…..
Also you repeatedly ignore me asking you for proof of the false claim you keep making against me that I’ve incited hatred…well Where’s your proof…I want the comments and the articles where I supposedly incited hatred….
You haven’t so far because you can’t…because your a liar….
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