Google Rolls Out Security Patch To Fix Camera App Bug That Affected Millions

Android smartphone users faced a massive vulnerability recently. A security firm found a bug in the Camera app of Google Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 3 devices. In the latest report, Google has just confirmed that the bug allowed hackers to control the camera on Google and a few Samsung smartphones.

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Google Confirms Bug

The security firm reported that the bug affected hundreds of millions of Android devices developed by Samsung and Google. The bug allowed hackers to turn on the camera, even while using apps that did not have permission to access the camera. The vulnerability could have recorded videos or captured photos using any app, without the right permissions.

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Google has now acknowledged the bug found by the security firm, Checkmarx. In a gist, an application could be used to switch on the camera on the smartphone. Unfortunately, the user would hardly be aware of the camera switched on. The hacker could use the bug to switch on the camera and turn it off as they pleased.

Google Confirms Bug; Released Patch

To prove the bug's existence, the security researchers were able to capture images while using the smartphone, while making a phone call. Worse, if the user had switched on location access, the hacker could even pinpoint the location of the user. At first, the security compromise was related to Google devices, which was later confirmed to extend to Samsung smartphones as well.

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Google has released a security patch update to fix the bug. Google released an official statement, which said "The issue was addressed on impacted Google devices via a Play Store update to the Google Camera Application in July 2019. A patch has also been made available to all partners."

Both Google and Samsung have already fixed a patch for the vulnerability found in the Camera app. It's best to keep the smartphone and the apps updated to the latest version as a safety precaution. However, it doesn't sideline the fact that the number of security issues is on the rise recently. While companies are rolling out patches to fix the issue, there seems to be no end to the number of compromises and vulnerabilities.

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