BlackBerry Priv Starts Receiving February Android Security Update

The BlackBerry Priv users have started receiving the monthly Android security update via over-the-air (OTA). The company says that the majority of its carrier partners have pledged support to its efforts to release a quick update for the Priv smartphone.

"As a result, we've managed to deliver our security updates the same day as Google's Nexus devices receive theirs - and in some cases, even before," said BlackBerry on its official blog.

The company said that it is noticing tremendous uptake rates of Priv smartphone patches thus far. In January, BlackBerry said it had over 70 percent of users in some regions installing the monthly update within the first 24 hours.

BlackBerry has not revealed any security vulnerability that the February patch brings. However, Google detailed the February Android security update to say it has fixed one of the most severe security vulnerabilities that could enable remote code execution on an affected device through multiple methods (such as email, Web browsing, and MMS) when processing media files. It added that the remote code execution vulnerability in Broadcom's Wi-Fi driver was also critical severity as it could allow remote code execution on an affected device while connected to the same network as the attacker.

Some of the other critical security vulnerabilities fixed in the update by Google include remote code execution vulnerability in mediaserver, elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm performance module, elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver, and elevation of privilege vulnerability in the debugger daemon. Much like the January security update, the February Android security update is purely focused on security fixes and does not upgrade the Android version.

To recall, BlackBerry Priv Android slider smartphone went up for sale in India last month at Rs. 62,990.