Google jumpstarts the new year by releasing a security patch meant to extremely heighten the shield of security vulnerabilities for Pixel and Nexus devices. The new Android 7.1.1 builds will go for Pixel models and Nexus devices, including Nexus 6P, 5X, 9, Player and Pixel C.

Pixel mobile devices recently received the partial security patch level strings that addressed all issues associated with Jan. 1, 2017. Later this week, it will again receive a complete security patch level string on Jan. 5, 2017.

Supported Google devices will receive a single OTA update on the same date, Android announces. According to Verizon, the update brings the most up to date Android security patch.

The patch brings the requisite bug fixes, along with nearly 50 security updates. Pixel owners are advised to look for builds NMF26U, NMF26V for Pixel XL and N4F26I for Pixel C, GSMarena reported. These devices have already received the update this week.

Meanwhile, the January 2017 Bulletin of Android details a number of vulnerabilities that have been patched both within Android itself and from third-party vendors like Qualcomm and NVIDIA, reports Android Central. It details about the effects of exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming that phone users have disabled any service mitigations for development purposes or successfully bypassed.

It mentioned vulnerabilities such as information disclosure vulnerability in external provider, denial of service vulnerability in core networking, and denial of service vulnerability in core networking, just to mention a few. Android announced that supported Google devices on Android 7.0 or later that have installed all available updates are not affected by the list of vulnerabilities mentioned in the bulletin.

It is for this reason that Android encouraged all users to update the latest version of Android where possible and accept these updates to their devices. Updates are also available in factory images and OTA updates, which can be easily sideloaded using Android Debug Bridge.

Topics Google, Google Pixel, Android, Android 7.1.1.