Android March Security Update Disables 'Pokémon Go' GPS Spoofing Hacks

Android March Security Update Disables 'Pokémon Go' GPS Spoofing Hacks

Charles Lim

Hackers previously had it very easy when it came to spoofing the GPS data for the highly popular augmented reality mobile video game, "Pokémon Go," on the Android operating system. However, the latest security update that has been released for Android Nougat 7.1 seems to have completely eradicated all of the GPS spoofing exploits. This means that majority, if not all, of the "Pokémon Go" GPS hacks will likely no longer work.

According to a report from Go Hub, the patch was apparently part of the Android March Security update that was released for all Android devices running Android Nougat. It effectively removed the ability of GPS hacks to mask the device's location and does not allow other data to pass through Niantic's servers. Before the update, "Pokémon Go" hacking apps could easily change the device's GPS location without having to disclose the data to the Android system.

While the update wasn't really created for "Pokémon Go" per se, the patch does get rid of one of the biggest cheating methods for the game. Numerous players using the latest version of Android are now reporting that the apps they use to fake their GPS location are no longer working. However, players who are using Android 6.0.1 and below are still able to use GPS spoofing software for "Pokémon Go."

Those who still want to have an advantage in "Pokémon Go"' and were lucky enough to not have downloaded the update are advised to disable their device's automatic security update feature. It also has to be mentioned that the specific GPS patch may be trickling down to older Android versions, which means that downloading any new update is not advisable.

Given this possibility, GPS spoofing in "Pokémon Go" may soon be completely eradicated from the game in the near future. Several players are of course not taking the news too well, especially those who are not able to fully enjoy the game due to disability or due to other circumstances.

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