Google is encouraging Pixel smartphone users to accept the free security update that the company started rolling out this January. The said update is believed to address the vulnerabilities of the Android platform such as its weakness against hacking. Google's security update intends to fix 95 vulnerabilities, reportedly.

As per Android Security Bulletin January 2017, two separate security patch level strings are implemented to facilitate a quicker fix to a group of similar issues in all Android devices. The partial security patch level string (2017-01-01) is intended to indicate that the vulnerabilities related to 2017-01-01 have been addressed. The patch reportedly aims to fix 23 bugs.

The complete security patch level string (2017-01-05), on the other hand, will specify that all issues associated with 2017-01-01 and 2017-01-05 have been attended to. The second patch is apparently designated to correct 72 bugs. A single over-the-air update will be available for supported Google device come Jan. 5.

The significance of the update is timely given the vulnerability of mobile devices against security breaches. As pointed out by Google, the most critical issue surrounding the Android platform is its risk to be remotely accessed by a hacker. Reportedly, a fraudster may retrieve information from an affected device through the user's email, web browsing activities and even through MMS.

Though the American multinational technology company claimed that it has not received new reports on the abuse or exploitation of its consumer's information, Google is still recommending users to update their devices. However, as pointed out by Express, owners of Google Pixel and Pixel L have experienced audio and camera problems that are not corrected through the patch.

Some users claimed that when they increase the volume of the device to its highest level, the sound becomes distorted. However, the problem is only specific to the speaker of the mobile phone as users said that the distortion is minimal when listening through a headset.

Google Pixel and Pixel L owners have also been inconvenienced with pink and purple lines that are displayed on the device screens when the camera app stops working. There were instances when the camera locks up, causing the display to freeze, apparently. However, the company has not released a statement about the aforementioned claims as of this posting.