Google slammed for risking Android with infected PNG images

San Francisco: Google is reportedly being slammed by security experts following the disclosure of a vulnerability that has exposed Android to the risk of being compromised by infected images.

Revealed in Google's February security update, the flaw leaves Android systems compromised with a modified Portable Network Graphics (PNG) that could trick users into viewing an infected image, Android Headlines reported on Saturday.

PNG is a raster-graphics file-format that supports lossless data compression.

The security flaw affects devices running Android 7.0 Nougat and newer versions of the software.

According to experts, the root cause of this alarming vulnerability has been a light approach to media content on Google's part.

The new firmware is currently only available on the Pixel handsets and a small number of Android One devices that run a stock version of the operating system (OS), the report informed.

However, Google's February security update addresses the issue, but the global rollout of the security patch is expected to take more time.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International, and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.