Settings ☎️
Check your Settings
Mobile device updates. Do you check your settings after the update is complete?
If no, you should.
⚠️ Notifications
🔔 You receive a notification on your device indicating you need to update to the latest operating system. The latest update fixes bugs but not the kind you need a fly swatter for, user interface (UI) elements, stability fixes, improved apps, end-to-end encryption, security patches for vulnerabilities, privacy fixes, etc. The list is endless.
Vulnerability, Exploit, Threat
A vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in a system, software, device, or process. For example: you live in a rural area, you lock all your doors and leave one window open for fresh air. The weak spot for an intruder is the one window you leave open regardless of the location.
Exploit is a tool, method, or technique an intruder uses to take advantage of a vulnerability. In the scenario above, the intruder uses a ladder from your shed to take advantage of the weakness.
Threat is anything that has the potential to cause harm by exploiting the vulnerability. The intruder notices the open window and might come into your home. The threat uses the exploit to take advantage of a vulnerability.
For the purpose of your phone an example may include a software bug that lets someone bypass a password screen (vulnerability) and a hacker that wants access to user data (threat) will use a piece of code designed to bypass the password (exploit). Hence, please update your device(s).
Types of Updates
🪲 What is a bug in software? We have a plethora of insects in our backyard and this is no different in software regardless of where the software is located and/or used. To name a few, there are functional bugs (when a feature does not work), performance bugs (think when your mobile device is slow or your battery is draining), user interface (UI)/user experience (UX) bugs (buttons not responding or layout issues), security bugs (think unauthorized access to your device), and compatibility bugs (your device is updated to the latest version and something breaks). Bugs = error, flaws, or defects in code.
Operating System (OS). These updates upgrade the phone e.g., Android 16 to Android 17 or iOS 26 to iOS 27. The update may change the design, layout, add new features with the intention of increasing the overall performance of the device and privacy.
Security Updates / Patches. These may be high and/or critical risk security flaws. The focus is to fix vulnerabilities that could put your data at risk.
App and Feature Updates. New camera tools, customization options, improved app stability.
Firmware Updates. Firmware is not an exercising term but rather it runs the hardware components of your phone e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, 5G.
Carrier/Network Updates. These come from your carrier e.g., Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc. The updates may improve your connectivity to the network, enable new calling features, etc.
Settings
Why should you check your settings on your mobile device after an update? You should check your settings to ensure that the apps settings are still the same or if they changed after the update. What does this mean? Let’s say before the update your app was not allowed to learn from you and with the most recent update all your apps learn from what you do on your mobile device. Is this something you want your phone to keep tabs on?
Learning Something New
Your mobile device can learn your patterns and understand your habits. How? By using the several applications (apps) downloaded to your phone and/or any device. Your device learns by recognizing these habits, patterns, and preferences to provide you with suggestions based on your behaviors. In simple terms, it improves the artificial intelligence (AI) models without exposing your private data.
Check for guidance in May’s newsletter.
