GOOGLE has fixed 33 security flaws in Android phones, including a dangerous trio that gives hackers complete control over devices.
The tech giant is set to roll out the fixes in Android's upcoming update this month – which all users are urged to download as soon as possible.
Three security flaws that have been marked as "critical" risk are what's known in the industry as a remote code execution vulnerability.
This is when an attacker can access and makes changes to a device remotely, no matter where the device is located – often thanks to malware they have lured people into downloading.
A separate "high" risk flaw was also found to have been exploited by cyber crooks before Google became aware of it.
Google said that this flaw, covertly titled CVE-2023-35674, "may be under limited, targeted exploitation."
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Hackers discovering exploits before Google's in-house security teams – or its bug bounty hunters around the world – isn't uncommon.
Fraudsters make it their mission to constantly come up with new ways to con people.
Fortunately, Google is very good at finding and patching them.
"Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform," the tech giant added.
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"We encourage all users to update to the latest version of Android where possible."
The September Android update isn't available just yet.
But Android devices will let you know when the update is ready.
The only thing you'll have to do then is restart the device when prompted.
To help keep yourself and your device protected in the meantime, make sure your phone is updated to the latest software that is currently available.
Stay vigilant when it comes to clicking links – from strangers and even close friends who may have also been hacked.
And always check the reviews for an app to make sure it's legit before you install it.
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