Everyone using Android must restart their phones now as 'critical' warning issued
If you use Android it's worth checking the settings and restarting your device.
There's a very important alert for all Android users this week, and everyone using this popular operating system must pay attention. Google has just released a vital security update which fixes a total of six issues with its smartphone platform.
That already sounds scary but some of the bugs are so bad they have been given the 'critical' rating, which means the update should be installed as soon as possible.
“While August’s Android Security Bulletin is lighter in volume compared to earlier this year, the criticality of the patched issues cannot be understated," Adam Boynton, Senior Security Strategy Manager EMEIA at Jamf explained. The news comes after O2 issued a stark new alert to UK users ahead of major change coming this year.
"Perhaps most concerning is CVE‑2025‑48530, a critical system-level vulnerability allowing remote code execution without user interaction."
That warning basically means a hacker could take control of a phone, and the owner would be completely unaware.
Another reason not to ignore the new release is that it fixes an issue discovered by tech giant Qualcomm, which could allow targeted exploitation - it remains a significant threat.
"There are indications from Google Threat Analysis Group that CVE-2025-21479, CVE-2025-21480, CVE-2025-27038 may be under limited, targeted exploitation," Qualcomm confirmed.
"Patches for the issues affecting the Adreno Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) driver have been made available to OEMs in May together with a strong recommendation to deploy the update on affected devices as soon as possible."
It's unclear if consumers have been hit by the issue or faced attack from hackers but it's not a good idea to ignore this latest update or become complacent.
Like all Android releases, Pixel phones will be the first to see the changes with other manufacturers then releasing their own fixes in the coming weeks.
It's now a good idea to keep an eye on your settings. If you spot a systems update install it and restart your phone without delay. That will make sure it stays protected from any current or future attacks.