科技英语新闻：Google fixing Android WiFi security hole

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Google on Wednesday began fixing a security hole in some 97 percent of Android phones that could let hackers snatch important credentials at public WiFi hotspots.

The fix, which addresses a hole allowing hackers to access the contacts, calendars and photos on an Android phone connected to an open WiFi network, will take a few days to cover every phone, a Google spokesman said.

Unlike a traditional software update, the problem exists on Google's servers, so Android users won't need to manually take action.

The newest versions of Android, including the new wave of tablets running its Honeycomb software, are not affected by the bug, according to the researchers at Germany's University of Ulm who initially reported the issue.

The vulnerability could also cause devices synchronizing with Google Picasa web albums to transmit sensitive data through unencrypted channels, the researchers added.

The Google spokesman said the company's security team is still investigating those claims.