Some Android Users Should Turn Off WiFi Calling Due To Security Concerns, Google Team Warns
© Provided by KDVR-TV Denver(NEXSTAR) - If you have an Android phone, you can choose to make calls over Wi-Fi, warns a team of Google security experts.
Earlier this month, the Google Project Zero team confirmed that it had discovered several vulnerabilities in Samsung's Exynos chipsets. Four of them may include "Remote Code Execution from the Internet to Baseband," which allows hackers to remotely hack certain Android phones.
All a hacker needs to know is your phone number, says Project Zero, a security research group that investigates zero-day vulnerabilities, which are known but not-yet-patched software bugs to protect against them.
"We believe that with limited additional research and development, skilled attackers can quickly create a working exploit to remotely and covertly hack vulnerable devices."
The remaining 14 vulnerabilities found by Project Zero were classified as "less serious".
According to Samsung, the devices that may be affected because they use the Exynos chipset are:
- Samsung Galaxy S22, M33, M12, M13, A71, A53, A33, A21s, A13, A12 and A04 models
- Vivo S16, S15, S6, X70, X60 and X30 series
- Google Pixel 6 and 7
Some vehicles may also be affected if they use the Exynos Auto T5123 chipset. According to Google Pixel phones have already received a patch to fix the vulnerabilities, and Samsung says it has released an update for some of the vulnerabilities.
If your phone hasn't been updated recently, you can also turn off Wi-Fi calling and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) to protect yourself from hackers.
Wi-Fi calling lets you make calls and send text messages when you're not connected to a mobile network, and VoLTE uses your LTE network instead of your regular network.
For Samsung users, Wi-Fi calling settings can be found under Settings, then Connections and Wi-Fi Calling. You will find a toggle that, if it is not already enabled, can be disabled. Google Pixel users can find Wi-Fi calling by going to Settings, then Network & Internet, then Mobile, then Advanced.
VoLTE is automatically enabled on many devices. On most Samsung and Google phones, it's under Settings, then Connections, then Mobile Network.
The Project Zero team recommends keeping your phone updated as new patches and software become available.
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