Download: Google Posts June 2016 Nexus Security Update

Google is keeping up with their monthly security updates, and have just posted the June 2016 update. This update isn’t a mandatory one, and doesn’t change the version of Android that you are currently on, but it does fix a number of security issues and vulnerabilities. All of which Google details in their monthly Security Bulletin. Of course, they don’t go that deep into detail about them, and that is so that users that don’t have the update won’t have additional security issues, or be taken advantage of with these exploits.

The security update is now available for the Nexus range and Pixel C. This will bring the Nexus 6P to build MTC19V, Nexus 5X to build MTC19V, Nexus 6 to MMB30J and MOB30M builds, the Nexus Player goes to build MOB30M, Nexus 5 to build MOB30M and Nexus 7 2013 to builds MOB30M and MMB30J. The Google Pixel C will be seeing build MXC89H, all of these devices are still on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

With the update now being available, both the factory images and OTA files are available on Google’s website. What this means is that if you want the update as soon as possible, you’ll be able to manually install it onto your device. And there are two options for doing so. The factory image will completely wipe your device, which means you’ll need to go ahead and back up your data beforehand. While an OTA file basically only updates the files that were changed. So there’s no need to wipe your data, as it will still be intact once you have updated your device. Making it pretty easy for everyone to update to the latest security patch and stay safe out there.

These security patches started becoming a monthly ritual for Google and a few other smartphone makers last year, when there were a slew of vulnerabilities surfacing. Including Stagefright, which was one of the biggest security vulnerabilities to surface in recent years. Largely due to the huge number of Android users it affected. While these security updates have helped, a bit, many manufacturers are still months behind pushing these updates out to their flagships. It is a step in the right direction, but there’s still more that needs to be done, in terms of updating smartphones and tablets.