The Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, and Galaxy Note 8 on Verizon and T-Mobile are getting a treat. An update is now rolling out to enhance their security.

The smartphones might be Samsung’s flagships from last year, so no longer the latest and greatest, but they still pack powerful specifications and have plenty to offer.

Android Security Updates

Google is rolling out monthly security updates for Android to ensure that devices running on its mobile operating system are up-to-date and protected against the latest threats.

Android is the world’s most popular and widespread mobile OS, but that also involves increased risks as attackers might target it for malicious purposes. Threats can range from adware to various other types of malware, fake apps, and more, and monthly security patches aim to keep devices as safe as possible.

Samsung Galaxy S8/ S8 Plus And Galaxy Note 8 Updates

Samsung’s 2017 flagships are now getting updates with the latest Android security patch for the month of May, which means they will feature increased security. Otherwise, the updates will not bring any other changes, improvements, or new features as they’re just security patches.

The Galaxy S9 is getting build number G950USQS3CRE2, the Galaxy S8 Plus is getting the G955USQS3CRE2 build, while the Galaxy Note 8 is getting build number N950USQU4CRE1.

The latest Android security patch brings 23 mandatory fixes for all Android devices, and a few other fixes specific to Samsung’s devices. Although it’s not a major update and it doesn’t bring any new features, it’s still highly recommended to install the patch as soon as it becomes available.

Update Prerequisites

As with any update, before proceeding to download and install the latest Android security patch, it’s best to ensure that the device has at least 50 percent of battery life left and that it’s connected to a stable network. Completing this process via Wi-Fi is preferable as a mobile data connection might incur extra costs.

The latest release for Samsung’s 2017 flagships follows the rollout for the newer Galaxy S9 series, which already received the May 2018 security patch. Lastly, keep in mind that these updates are always gradual, rolling out in stages, which means that not all users will receive the patch at the same time.

The May 2018 Android security patch started rolling out to the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, and Galaxy Note 8 on May 23, so it might take a few days to complete. Those who don’t want to wait for the OTA notification can manually check whether the update is available by accessing their phone’s Settings menu > Software update > Check for updates.