Security research firm recommends that Android buyers stick to a Nexus or Samsung phone only

posted by Alan F. / Jul 02, 2016, 2:39 AM

Security research firm recommends that Android buyers stick to a Nexus or Samsung phone only

Highly respected security researcher Gal Beniamini has found and demonstrated a vulnerability on certain Android phones using a Snapdragon chipset. This attack bypasses an attacked phone's full encryption. These handsets have not yet received the May security update, which just so happened to contain a security patch against this vulnerability. Taking into account the number of Android phones which have not received the May security update, it is computed that 57% of Android phones are vulnerable to this attack.

According to research firm Duo Labs, 75% of Samsung Galaxy S6 units received the May security update compared to the 0% that received the January update. Samsung Galaxy S5 phones were .2% patched in January compared to the 45% that received the May update. 75% of Nexus handsets have received the May security update.

Duo strongly recommends that Android users install each security update as it arrives. Because not every manufacturer is really pushing the security updates, Duo suggests that consumers looking for a secure Android phone limit themselves to Nexus and Samsung models only.

"As always, we find the only Android devices that we can recommend without major reservations are Nexus and, now, Samsung devices, provided they keep releasing those security updates quickly."-Duo Labs

In a message to corporate IT chiefs, Duo says that corporations should develop policies to prevent vulnerable handsets from putting company data at risk of being hacked. By having strong corporate policies in place, IT personnel can determine which users are sporting Android phones that are vulnerable to attack. Most BYD'ers don't realize when their Android phone is vulnerable to an attack.

Google Nexus 6P

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Google Nexus 6P

source: Duo via AndroidAuthority

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113 Comments

1. bencozzy

Posts: 24; Member since: Oct 29, 2012

OnePlus 3 is good to go on June patch with firmware 3.1.3

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:49 AM 1

2. Doakie

Posts: 2478; Member since: May 06, 2009

Ugh... As the current owner of a Nexus 6P, and the previous owner of a OnePlus One I can't believe how buggy Nexus phones are. Also how horrible the battery life is after all these BS security patches. I'm very strongly considering getting a OnePlus 3(even though the OS is totally different than the OnePlus One) or the 256 GB ZenFone 3 Deluxe. Those two phones are just so GD hot.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:54 AM 2

6. tedkord

Posts: 17182; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

I haven't had a Nexus since I got my son the Nexus 4. It was never buggy. Now the Oneplus One was extremely buggy, but that's CM for you. I gave my dad the Nexus 4 as his first smartphone after upgrading my son to the OPO, and he loves it. I'm pretty sure it's updated to MM, but I'd have to check.The OPO was so buggy it didn't last a year, I replaced it with a Moto X Pure.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 3:18 AM 10

62. PHYCLOPSH

Posts: 649; Member since: Jun 28, 2014

OnePlus doesn't run CM, is runs COS (Cyanogen OS) which is basically the trash that CyanogenMod took out to the dumpster from the other night. CM is much better/ stable than COS in my opinion.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 3:07 PM 0

64. PHYCLOPSH

Posts: 649; Member since: Jun 28, 2014

I second that the Oxygen OS on newer OnePlus phones is better than the defunct COS, but still not as good as CM.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 3:15 PM 1

66. tedkord

Posts: 17182; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

It's basically CM. I've run CM on various phones. It's always buggy as hell.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 4:05 PM 0

92. perry1234

Posts: 632; Member since: Aug 14, 2012

Nexus 4 has not got Marshmallow officially.

posted on Jul 03, 2016, 10:06 AM 0

13. shahrooz

Posts: 792; Member since: Sep 17, 2013

ASUS takes ages to update its software, Zenfone 2 is still on Lollipop.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 5:53 AM 0

28. deviceguy2016

Posts: 826; Member since: Jun 16, 2016

ASUS is the cheapest you can buy , that's the Walmart prepaid stuff

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 10:10 AM 0

29. deviceguy2016

Posts: 826; Member since: Jun 16, 2016

Samsung all the way

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 10:11 AM 3

96. cheetah2k

Posts: 2198; Member since: Jan 16, 2011

My S7 got the June security patch mid last week. pretty happy with the turn around on updates TBH

posted on Jul 03, 2016, 9:33 PM 0

38. Scott93274

Posts: 6030; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

Umm.... Nexus phones are buggy? I also have a Nexus 6P, I've had one since November and the only issues I've experienced with it were when I had downloaded the first beta release of Android N. Also after looking at your profile... how the hell have you managed to go through 47+ mobile devices?

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 11:31 AM 3

41. Furbal unregistered

My 6p was regularly getting cannot connect to camera errors regularly on the Feb security update.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 12:06 PM 0

44. Scott93274

Posts: 6030; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

I take back what I said earlier, my camera's slow-motion recording feature was screwed up after the camera app received its update that changed the interface, now frame rate is only a couple frames per second, it was incredibly annoying, I haven't tried the setting in a long time though so I'm not sure if it's been resolved... I do not recall when this particular update was received causing this issue though. Other than that though, it's been smooth sailing with the Nexus 6P.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 12:31 PM 0

72. XperiaFanZone

Posts: 2277; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

I'm still on mm on 6p (decided not to update)...I've had same slow mo problem for a while , it works after a reboot

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 4:43 PM 0

79. Scott93274

Posts: 6030; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

lol, it works after a reboot? I can't say that I've tried that, my phone's been running for 400 hours now which was when I had loaded Nougat beta on there, and it was another 800 hours before then when I had restarted which was for a security update. I'll give it a shot. (Though I con't consider this a valid or long term solution to the issue)

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 5:39 PM 1

43. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 2013

Owning 47 is a lot for a year, but I have owned more than that in the last two years. It's not unheard of for people to serial phone hop if you are careful and time your sales right.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 12:22 PM 0

45. Scott93274

Posts: 6030; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

Damn, you people are crazy. lol, I'm perfectly content with keeping to a single device for two years.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 12:33 PM 0

50. Mxyzptlk unregistered

That's some serious dedication. I honestly don't see the need to always jump to the newest flavor of the month. From the looks of it, besides 4GB of RAM, I see no need to jump to the next Nexus phones especially if they don't have the front firing speakers. I'll just stick with the 6P once there's another sale for it.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:02 PM 0

51. Scott93274

Posts: 6030; Member since: Aug 06, 2013

But in all honesty, is there anything with your current phone that simply does work well with 3GB of RAM? Even though it is expected to come with 4GB I simply do not see any real need or reason where that amount would benefit me.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:09 PM 0

54. blueghost211

Posts: 57; Member since: Oct 19, 2015

Using my Nexus 6, I never see my ram reach more than 1.7 GB. The performance is consistent and I never run out of RAM. Do you really need 4 GB of RAM? I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt in the future when they implant the next Nexus phone into you. Lol jk.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:22 PM 0

57. Awalker

Posts: 1967; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

It's for the multitasking tests people run on YouTube. The phone is no good if it can't keep seven games in memory simultaneously because that's how everyone uses their phone.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:47 PM 0

97. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Ultimately I don't really care because 3gb is enough to do the tasks I need to do. My main concern is the exclusion of front facing speakers.

posted on Jul 03, 2016, 11:44 PM 0

56. Awalker

Posts: 1967; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

I've had a dozen in the last couple of years but 47 seems over the top.

posted on Jul 02, 2016, 2:43 PM 0

93. perry1234

Posts: 632; Member since: Aug 14, 2012

Isn't it irritating ? Constantly moving your data from one handset to other ? I have over 2000 pic , several videos and data transfer would be a huge pain for me.

posted on Jul 03, 2016, 10:08 AM 0

102. MySchizoBuddy

Posts: 159; Member since: Aug 23, 2011

That is in average 7 days per phone. Hence your opinion about phones is total nonsense

posted on Jul 04, 2016, 12:15 AM 0

103. Doakie

Posts: 2478; Member since: May 06, 2009

Actually I haven't updated my list of smartphones recently. I tend to buy 2-3 smartphones per year. The longest owned smartphone I've had in the last 9 years was my OnePlus One which lasted me a year before I had to upgrade to sate the addiction.