Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Android bug allowed hackers to access phone cameras in the background

By

Facebook may be the least trusted company when it comes to online privacy, but it seems like Google is vying for the top spot. The company disclosed a new Android vulnerability that essentially allowed hackers to gain access to a smartphone’s camera. That’s even when the phone is locked.

The bug was actually discovered by Checkmarx and allowed hackers to bypass app permissions. Pixel phones were specifically affected, but it seems like the issue also affects phones from Samsung and other manufacturers too.

Recommended Videos

“Our team found that by manipulating specific actions and intents, an attacker can control the app to take photos and/or record videos through a rogue application that has no permissions to do so,” Checkmarx said in a blog post. “Additionally, we found that certain attack scenarios enable malicious actors to circumvent various storage permission policies, giving them access to stored videos and photos, as well as GPS metadata embedded in photos, to locate the user by taking a photo or video and parsing the proper EXIF data.”

Related

After the blog post went live, Google confirmed the existence of the bug, however, it also said that the bug is no longer present. In other words, if you have the latest security update on your phone, you don’t need to worry about hackers being able to access your camera. At least, not from this specific issue.

“The issue was addressed on impacted Google devices via a Play Store update to the Google Camera Application in July 2019. A patch has also been made available to all partners,” Google said in a statement to Checkmarx.

This isn’t the only bug related to camera access in recent weeks. Recently, a bug was discovered that allowed Facebook to access the iPhone’s camera in the background. After the bug was discovered Facebook released a statement saying that it had inadvertently introduced the bug when fixing another issue — and that there was no evidence of photos or videos being uploaded to Facebook because of the bug. Of course, whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t bode well for Facebook in general, which has been involved in scandal after scandal related to user privacy.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Contributor
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
I compared Google and Samsung’s AI photo-editing tools. It’s not even close
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 8 Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Google Pixel 8 Pro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Most phones nowadays are equipped with dual lens or triple lens camera systems and have powerful photo-editing tools baked natively into the software. This means most people have a compact photo-editing suite in their pocket every day.

Read more
5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 2
The main workout screen on the Google Pixel Watch 2.

It's no secret that we weren't fans of the first Google Pixel Watch. However, Google heard all the criticism of its smartwatch debut and made amends, coming back with the Google Pixel Watch 2. Its second attempt was much better, adding strong performance, exceptional comfort, and a solid battery life to the fitness tracking of Fitbit. While it still has some issues, it's now a product we can recommend buying.

But just because it's now good doesn't mean there aren't alternatives to be had. There are a number of smartwatches that are better suited for those looking for a longer battery life, a focus on fitness, or a simpler experience. Some are just flat-out better. If you're considering buying a Google smartwatch, you need to know about these five smartwatches you should buy instead of the Google Pixel Watch 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

Read more
A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.

According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.

Read more