The Samsung modems that power gadgets like the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and select Galaxy S22 and A53 models have some serious flaws, according to Project Zero, Google's security research team.

According to a blog post by the business, a small number of Exynos modems have a collection of vulnerabilities that "allow an attacker to remotely exploit a phone at the baseband level with no user interaction" using just the victim's phone number.

Now, annoyingly, it appears like Samsung is taking its time correcting the problem.

The team also issues a warning that skilled hackers might take advantage of the problem "with little more investigation and development." 

Google claims that the March Pixels security update will fix the issue, but 9to5Mac disagrees. Google states that the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a do not currently support it (we also checked on our own 6a and there was no update). 

According to the researchers, the following gadgets might be at danger:

• Samsung's whole line of mobile devices, including the Galaxy S22, M33, M13, M12, A71, A53, A33, A21, A13, A12, and A04 models.
• The S16, S15, S6, X70, X60, and X30 series smartphones as well as all other Vivo mobile devices.

• All wearable devices using the Exynos W920 chipset.
• And all automobiles using the Exynos Auto T5123 chipset.

It's important to note that a device must use one of the affected Samsung modems in order to be susceptible. 

The fact that the S22 marketed outside of Europe and several African nations has a Qualcomm CPU and modem and should be immune to these specific problems may be a comfort to many S22 users. Nevertheless, Exynos-powered phones, such as the well-known midrange A53 and European S22, may be weak points.

Theoretically, the S21 and S23 are secure because Qualcomm is the global processor of choice for Samsung's most recent flagships, and Exynos modems are not included in Samsung's list of concerned semiconductors.

Turning off Wi-Fi calling and Voice-over-LTE will help you protect yourself if you are aware that your phone has one of the susceptible modems and are worried about it being abused (note that attacks might "compromise compromised devices covertly and remotely"). 

Your calls will be harsher, but it will likely be worthwhile.