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Start of a new month, and here comes the latest security patch from Google.
Google has released the Android Security Patch for the month of April 2018 for the current lineup of Nexus and Pixel devices. The updates are available as OTAs and factory images, downloadable depending on your preference, for the Nexus 6P, the Nexus 5X and the entire Pixel lineup (Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL) and the Pixel C.
A critical security vulnerability in the media framework is according to Google the most severe security issue identified this month. The vulnerability would grant any remote attacker to execute arbitrary code using a crafted payload/ file. Apart from this, there were vulnerabilities in the Android runtime environment also among others. All of these vulnerabilities and many other are patched in this month security update a complete list of which is available on the Android Security Bulletin.
There are some functional improvements also, like enabling of Assisted Dialing Support for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Google has also improved the connectivity and performance on certain carrier networks for the Pixel lineup and addressed the call forwarding issue which was hampering some of its devices. Apart from these, there are many other functional improvements also, this time again the complete list is available on Pixel/ Nexus Security Bulletin.
Google has given a special mention to Qualcomm for the company’s dedicated efforts in improving the security of the mobile devices.
The links for downloading the update files are given below, in case you don’t want to wait for an over the air update to show up.
There are two separate update patches for the Nexus 6P (OPM3.171019.019, Apr 2018 and OPM5.171019.019, Apr 2018), with as of now no wording from the company in which way they differ or which carrier they would be supporting.
Further Reads:
Android 8.1 rolls out for Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 2017
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ gain support for official TWRP recovery
Samsung Gear S2 gets a new, surprise update
