One with Pixel devices, Nexus have also received its share in the recently released security patch by Google. Android 7.1.1 brings bug fixes as well as bundle of security updates that shields one's device for any security vulnerabilities this new year.

Nexus devices available for update includes Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player and Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi). Android encouraged all users to update the latest version of Android where possible as 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 will be experienced should the phone user disabled any service mitigations for development purposes or successfully bypassed the update.

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. Updates are available in factory images and OTA, which can be easily sideloaded using Android Debug Bridge.

Part of the beauty of owning a Nexus device is the opportunity to return the device to a factory state. The January security update is rolled OTA (over-the-air), but you can flash the factory images if you don't want to wait for it, Phone Arena advised.

Here are the steps given by Droid Life, should users want to take matters in their own hands. The source suggested that prior to flashing factory images, an Android SDK set up is needed. Once the Android SDK is downloaded, the first step now starts with downloading the newest factory images, a link is given at the source's website.

Next step, is to unzip the file and its contents into the SDK/platform-tools folder, from within the platform-tools folder, open a command prompt and type the following commands, allowing each to finish before moving onto the next. Commands include adb reboot bootloader, fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-hammerhead-HHZ11d.img, fastboot reboot-bootloader, fastboot flash radio radio-hammerhead-M8974A-1.0.25.0.17.img, fastboot reboot-bootloader, fastboot -w update image-hammerhead-krt16m.zip,
fastboot reboot-bootloader. The source instructed that if using a Mac, be sure to add ./ in front of all commands (ex: ./fastboot reboot-bootloader).

To go back to 100 percent stock with a locked bootloader, a user will have to type fastboot oem lock. However, if the user wants to keep the bootloader unlocked he is instructed to simply tap the power button from the start screen.

Droid life noted that these instructions are specifically for the Nexus 5, but they will also work for any Nexus device. It cautioned that when flashing the factory image, user must make sure that it downloaded the correct factory image file that one wants to flash for the particular Nexus device.

Topics Google, Google Nexus 2016, Android, Android 7.1.1.