Samsung Galaxy S8 & S8+ moving to quarterly updates

One of the best ways of keeping your mobile device secure is to ensure that you are updating it’s firmware whenever the developer releases a new version. These regular updates provided by the manufacturer will contain crucial patches for protecting the device against security threats.

As devices get older, the support for those devices begins to dwindle. Manufacturers and developers focus on the newly released models and slowly, the lifecycle of that device begins to come to an end.

That’s exactly what Samsung has recently announced for their 2017 Galaxy models – S8 & S8+. Users of those devices will from now on only receive updates every quarter.

How will this affect users of the Galaxy S8 & S8+?

The biggest implication for users of these select devices is the fact that the devices could be more susceptible to security breaches and bugs found in the Android system. Whereas a newer device might receive a patch soon after the bug is discovered, a Galaxy S8 or S8+ device will have to wait until the next scheduled patch. This means that there could be a period of time (up to 3 months) where the device is unprotected from this type of attack.

What can you do to protect yourself?

1. Install a security app. We created a custom-built app called ‘Certo Mobile Security’ which is designed from the ground up to help Android users keep their devices protected against dangerous spyware. This app can scan your device to detect and remove any malicious software that has been installed by a hacker. This means that even if your device is susceptible to a security exploit, you can easily detect if spyware has been installed and remove it with the tap of a button. You can even upgrade the app to allow it to run autonomously, so you can essentially ‘set it and forget it’ safe in the knowledge that you will be protected. Click here if you would like to learn more.
2. Only install apps from the official Google Play Store. This is very important. Apps on the Play Store are to be trusted infinitely more than an app from a third-party app store. Hackers use third-party app stores to help distribute their malicious software in order to try and gain the personal information of those who are unlucky enough to download it.
3. Be wary about clicking links in email and text messages. Scammers often like to find their victims by sending out mass emails, texts and chat messages (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc). Be careful about what links you are clicking in these apps and what information you are being asked to input. You could be walking into a hacker’s trap. Only use websites you trust and check with the company’s policy on asking for details – you’ll find that most have a policy not to ask via these channels.

Hopefully you found this helpful. We ask you to please pass this onto anyone else you know who is using a Samsung S8 or S8+ as it’s important that users are aware of this development and its implications for security.

You can find a lot more useful information about Android security on the official Certo blog. We aim to keep you updated with the latest breaking news in mobile security, along with tips and tricks for protecting your privacy in your day-to-day online life.