Millions of Samsung phones are at risk of getting hacked – update these devices right now

Some older ones Samsung phones has a major vulnerability in its chips, so install the latest security patch if your device is affected to ensure you’re safe.

Originally reported to Samsung in July by Google security researcher Xingyu Jin and Clement Lecigeneand recognized earlier this month, the message from Samsung Semiconductor mentions several chipsets that are vulnerable to a certain “privilege escalation” attack method that could allow hackers to gain access to your phone’s full system. The notice doesn’t tell us which devices this applies to, but some specs quickly reveal which Samsung products use the chips in question.

The most notable phones affected are Exynos 990-equipped Galaxy S20 series (incl Galaxy S20 FE) and Galaxy Note 20 series from 2020, as well as Exynos 980-equipped Galaxy S10 series and Galaxy Note 10 series from 2019. However, the vulnerability only exists in the Exynos-powered version of these phones. It’s likely that if you bought your phone in the US, you’re using a Snapdragon-powered model, which isn’t affected.

Galaxy S10 cameras — (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)

This exception does not apply to the cheaper Galaxy A, F and M models, which generally use the same chip worldwide. Models with Exynos 9820, 9825 and 850 include Galaxy A21, Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 from 2020 but the 850 chip was also used in later phones, including Galaxy A14 from last year in some markets and the 2022s Galaxy A13 and A04 worldwide.

Samsung Galaxy A51 review — (Image credit: Future)

Some more exotic phones with these chips include the security-focused Galaxy A Quantum (since it uses an Exynos 980) and a number of Galaxy M and Galaxy F phones, which are only sold in select markets. And we can’t forget the Vivo X30 series and the Vivo S6 5G, which, although not Samsung phones, use Samsung 980s and are therefore subject to the same risk.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 — (Image credit: Future)

It’s not just phones that are affected either. The Galaxy Watch 5 series, Galaxy Watch 4 series and Galaxy Watch FE all use an Exynos W920 chip, the only laptop-focused silicon on the list but one that still has the security issue.

This is why you should always install your updates

It is always a good idea to download and install software and security updates for your phone as soon as they are available. But it’s especially important when there’s a problem like this that could give a hacker free access to your entire phone, so watch out for incoming updates if you own one of these devices.

Even if you install the software update, it may be time to consider an upgrade if you’re still running a Galaxy S10, Galaxy S20, Note 10, or Note 20. These models haven’t received full Android updates since 2022 and 2023, respectively, so upgrading would give a full lots of software features as well as hardware updates. Plus, your new phone would likely last you a lot longer as Samsung now promises seven years of full updates for its latest flagship models.

If an upgrade sounds good to you, check out ours best samsung phones guide to the best options for every budget. Or if you’re happy to hold out a little longer, check out ours Galaxy S25 the rumor hub for all the latest on Samsung’s next flagship phone, expected to arrive in January 2025.