Google Pixel Phones Exposed to Security Flaw, Mobile Security Firm Reveals

A recent report by mobile security firm iVerify has uncovered a significant security vulnerability in Google’s Pixel smartphones. According to iVerify, a third-party application embedded in Pixel devices for several years poses a major risk, potentially allowing hackers to inject malicious code and spyware. 

The vulnerability, which affects millions of Android Pixel phones, raises serious concerns about data security and privacy.

In response to the findings, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the company is taking immediate action to address the issue and plans to remove the problematic application within the next few weeks. 

The spokesperson also noted to The Washington Post that exploiting this vulnerability would require both physical access to the device and the user’s password. 

The revelation has led AI firm Palantir to halt the distribution of Pixel phones to its employees, as reported by The Post.

“Mobile security is a very real concern for us, given where we’re operating and who we’re serving,” Palantir’s (PLTR) Chief Information Security Officer, Dane Stuckey, told The Post. “This was very deleterious of trust, to have third-party, unvetted insecure software on it. We have no idea how it got there, so we made the decision to effectively ban Androids internally.”

iVerify said that the issue “highlight[s] the need for more transparency and discussion around having third-party apps running as part of the operating system” in tech firms’ products. “It also demonstrates the need for quality assurance and penetration testing to ensure the safety of third-party apps installed on millions of devices.”