Samsung has rolled out a critical security update for its oldest Wear OS smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 4. The update fixes a vulnerability that could allow hackers to access the device’s data and functions. The update also improves the performance and stability of the smartwatch.
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-12345, affects the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol used by the Galaxy Watch 4 to communicate with other devices. According to Samsung, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the smartwatch or cause a denial of service. This could compromise the user’s personal information, health data, and device settings.
Samsung has released a security bulletin that advises users to update their Galaxy Watch 4 to the latest software version as soon as possible. The update is available through the Galaxy Wearable app on the user’s smartphone. The update is about 20 MB in size and has the build number R870XXU1AUK1.
What are the other improvements in the update?
Besides fixing the security issue, the update also brings some improvements to the Galaxy Watch 4. According to the changelog, the update enhances the accuracy of the body composition analysis feature, which measures the user’s body fat, muscle mass, and water level. The update also improves the battery life and the overall performance of the smartwatch.
The Galaxy Watch 4 is Samsung’s first smartwatch to run on Wear OS powered by Samsung, a collaboration between Samsung and Google. The smartwatch features a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display, a bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor, an optical heart rate sensor, an electrical heart sensor, and other health monitoring features. The smartwatch also supports Bluetooth calling, wireless charging, and Samsung Pay.
How to get the update and what to expect next?
To get the update, users need to open the Galaxy Wearable app on their smartphone and tap on the Watch software update option. The app will then check for the update and download it to the smartwatch. The update process may take a few minutes and the smartwatch may restart during the process.
Samsung has been regularly updating its Galaxy Watch 4 series with new features and bug fixes. The company has also promised to deliver at least three years of software support for the smartwatch. Users can expect more updates in the future that will enhance the functionality and security of the smartwatch.
