Google Changes Android Security Update Strategy, Focuses On High Risk Patch

Googel made a priority in Android security updates (photo: dock. google)

JAKARTA - Google has officially announced major changes in the way it releases security updates to Android. Now, the company will adopt a risk-based system that prioritizes high-risk security loopholes to be addressed immediately, while other improvements will be combined and released every quarter.

This step was taken because over the years, Google released a monthly bulletin detailing all the security holes being patched. However, the system often makes phone manufacturers overwhelmed because it has to patch a lot of small bugs every month, leading to delays in updates for users.

In this new model, only vulnerabilities are classified as high-risk especially those being exploited in the real world that will receive emergency patches every month. Meanwhile, bugs with moderate and low risk levels will be collectively repaired in large releases per quarter.

For Android users, this new policy means that protection against serious threats can come sooner. Even phones from brands that are usually slow updating have the potential to get a more consistent patch, especially on quarterly updates.

Even so, some have warned that a longer time lag for low-risk bug patches could be exploited by hackers if the vulnerability information leaks. However, Google insists that their main focus is protecting users from active threats as quickly as possible.

With this strategy, Google hopes that the Android ecosystem will be safer and the patch distribution process will be more efficient.