Samsung started distributing an update to the Galaxy A7 (2017) that will install the December 2017 Android security patch. This security patch contains fixes for 11 critical vulnerabilities found in both the media framework and the system portion of Google’s OS. Some of the security issues resolved in the software upgrade have been categorized either as remote code execution or denial of service exploits. In addition, the update should also fix ten other software exploits discovered in the proprietary software of the South Korean tech giant. Aside from the security patch, it seems that the update does not contain any new features nor does it appear to include any performance improvements.
Since the software package is being rolled out automatically, it may take several days before all units receive it. Nonetheless, users have the option of manually triggering the installation process by going to the system Settings app and proceeding to the “Software updates” section. Before installing the software upgrade, it is important for the user to back up the files and images stored in the handset to prevent possible loss of data. In addition, the smartphone’s battery should have sufficient charge to last the entire installation procedure. After installing the software package, the new build can be identified using the firmware version number A720FXXU2BQL9. Right now, Samsung is only distributing the security patch in Mexico, although other countries are expected to receive it in the coming weeks.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) is powered by the Exynos 7880 chipset, which is comprised of an octa-core CPU with a maximum frequency of 1.9GHz and the Mali-T830MP3 GPU. The smartphone sports a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, and it is protected from scratches by a sheet of Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The handset contains 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal flash storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. Both the rear camera and the front-facing selfie shooter are equipped with a 16-megapixel sensor situated behind an f/1.9 lens. To keep the lights on, the handset includes a 3,600mAh non-removable battery. When it launched earlier this year, the handset originally shipped with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow pre-installed but it was later upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat.