Own a Samsung Galaxy phone? Check for this ‘critical' Android upgrade now

Anyone with a Galaxy phone in their pocket would be wise to check for an urgent update that's being released by Samsung this month. The Korean technology company has confirmed that its May 2023 security patch fixes over 70 flaws including six that have been given a dreaded 'critical' rating - that's one of the most serious classifications.

Four of these 'critical' bugs are part of the Android operating system and affect all phones powered by Google's operating system whilst the other two are specific to Samsung devices.

The reason for that scary 'critical' rating is that some of the flaws could allow arbitrary code execution and give hackers the opportunity to run commands on a device without the owner's permission.

"At Samsung, we take security and privacy issues very seriously and we are doing our best to respond as quickly as possible. Securing your device and maintaining the trust you place in us is our top priority," the firm said on its security pages.

It's thought that this new patch is being slowly rolled out across the globe but it's worth checking your Galaxy phone regularly to make sure it's fully updated with the latest software.

Here's to check and update your Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

• Unlock the display

• Go to Settings > tap Software update.

• Tap Download and install.

• If new software is available, you can choose Install now, Schedule install or Later.

Once that's done you should find your phone is then fully protected from any new threats.

All of Samsung's latest and greatest devices such as the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Flip3 and Galaxy S22 models get monthly security updates but some older devices like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy A22 are only offered quarterly upgrades.

You can find the full list here to see what patches you'll get throughout the year.