Google’s Latest Android Update Brings Pixel Closer to iPhone Experience

Update of ios 18.3.1 warning is commonplace for pixel vs Samsung aren't new, but there's something completely different this time. We've never seen this before. It could have major implications for the duopoly of smartphones (putting Huawei aside given its particular security concerns) and could be a game changer to Pixel users as the Android ecosystem evolves.

In the beginning of this month Google released its security updates for February that contained a note to be aware that "CVE-2024-53104 may be under limited, targeted exploitation."

Google provided no details about the vulnerability of Android however the article clarified that it's a problem with video management that can cause memory instability when dealing with unintentionally-sized frames. Android security firm GrapheneOS has filled in the blanks: "It's likely one of the USB bugs exploited by forensic data extraction tools."

Then to Apple that was more forthcoming in declaring its vulnerability "a physical attack [that] may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device." According to the Bleeping Computer clarifies this time, the restrained Mode "blocks USB accessories from making a connection to a data source in the event that the device has been locked for longer than an hour. Pixel 10 leak feature is intended to prevent forensic tools like Graykey as well as Cellebrite (commonly employed by law enforcement agencies) from obtaining data on the locked iOS device."

We're aware that forensic exploitation is now the biggest security issue for smartphones in both platforms. You'll remember Android's numerous zero-days last year, as well as the outrage when Apple's iphone 15 pro max were discovered to have a new protection mechanism against extraction tools " mysteriously rebooting" when removed from storage lockers.