Android phone owners are being urged to update their handset to avoid problems

Google is fixing an issue with Android phones that might have exposed users' personal knowledge.

It follows a warning from German security researchers that additional than ninety nine% of handsets were probably leaking info. The flaw meant hackers may have gained access to knowledge among the phones' calendar and contacts applications.
Such problems are seemingly to become additional frequent, warned security experts.

Google said during a statement: "We tend to're starting to roll out a fix which addresses a possible security flaw that might, under sure circumstances, permit a 3rd party access to information available in calendar and contacts. "This fix needs no action from users and can roll out globally over the following few days."

The vulnerability affected the login credentials for some applications. The ID token that allows individuals to access the service while not the requirement to keep logging could be intercepted by criminals if they were sent over unsecured wireless networks.

With this token, criminals would be in a position to cause as the user and obtain at their personal data. Security experts have praised Google's fast response to the problem but warned that the large range of Android smartphones available leaves Android devices open to security problems.

"Whereas Apple can issue one iOS update to patch iPhones and iPads, things are not so easy for Google's users," said Graham Cluley, a senior consultant for security firm Sophos. He said users should upgrade to the newest version of Android and avoid using open wi-fi networks.
"Using 3G may eat into your knowledge plan, but it's so much less probably that your communications are being snooped upon," he said.