Android Phones at High Risk: Indian Government Issues Urgent Warning About Hacking Threat

April 15, 2025 India Android smartphone users across India have been put on high alert following a serious security advisory issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The agency has flagged multiple high-severity vulnerabilities affecting devices with MediaTek and Qualcomm processors, putting millions of users at risk of data theft, system crashes, and potential remote access by hackers.

Who Is Affected?

CERT-In warns that the security flaws affect a wide range of Android components, including:

• MediaTek and Qualcomm chipsets

• Google Play System updates

• Framework and kernel-level components

• Arm and Imagination Technologies modules

Devices running Android versions older than 13, 14, or 15 are particularly vulnerable. If your phone is still on Android 12 or 12L, the agency urges you to update immediately to avoid potential exploits.

Severity of the Threat: “High” Risk for All Android OEMs

The advisory categorizes the issue as “High Severity”, indicating a critical risk to users’ personal data and device integrity. Hackers can potentially:

• Gain unauthorized access to sensitive information

• Launch Denial of Service (DoS) attacks

• Bypass existing security protections

• Exploit OEM-specific vulnerabilities

CERT-In has emphasized that all Android OEMs—regardless of brand—could be affected if devices have not received the latest patches.

How to Protect Your Android Device

Google has already acknowledged the issues and rolled out necessary security updates. To ensure your smartphone is protected, follow these steps to update your Android OS:

How to Update Your Android Phone:

1. Go to “Settings” on your device

2. Tap “System” > “System update”

3. Check for available updates

4. If an update is available, download and install it

5. Once done, restart your phone

Make sure your Google Play system update is also up to date to patch core services.

Additional Safety Tips for Android Users

• Avoid downloading apps from untrusted sources

• Regularly check app permissions and revoke unnecessary ones

• Enable Play Protect in the Google Play Store

• Use a reputable mobile antivirus for extra protection

• Backup your data regularly

Conclusion: Don’t Delay Your Security Update

With millions of devices potentially at risk, Android users are strongly advised to update their systems immediately. Ignoring these security alerts could leave your smartphone vulnerable to serious cyber threats, including data breaches and remote attacks.