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Researchers find flaw in android security lockscreen

Android users, beware.

Researchers at the University of Texas have discovered a security flaw in the latest version of Android, the Android Lollipop 5.0, reports the Daily Mail.

They found that that by entering an abnormally long string of text while the camera application is still active can cause the phone or tablet to crash.

The crash exposes the phone's homescreen, allowing the researchers to access the phone's data and apps.

The researchers have uploaded step-by-step instructions on their blog post

 

 

Step-by-step instructions by the researchers from the University of Texas on the security flaw. 

According to BBC, this opens up possibilities of hackers accessing personal files and installing malware into the phone, making 21 per cent of Android users vulnerable.

However, the attack only works on password locks, not Pin codes, pattern or facial lock.

The hacker must also have physical access to the phone.

This means that only people who have their phones stolen are at risk.

Google has issued a patch only for its Nexus devices on Wednesday (Sept 16) and said that it 'had not yet detected anybody exploiting the flaw'.

The fix will then need to be issued to other smartphone makers who will need to push the update to their respective customers.

In another light, this flaw may actually be useful if a family member or friend needs to access the phone in times of an emergency.

Sources: BBC, Daily Mail

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