More than one billion Android devices are thought to be vulnerable to hackers. While more Android devices are sold compared to iOS, it has an update problem that’s putting plenty of device owners at risk.
One of Android’s biggest selling points is that it encourages choice. This results in smartphone buyers having the option to purchase the device that best suits their needs, and at a price that matches their budget. However, one of the major downsides with the open approach taken by Google is that with many chefs in the kitchen, updates are not always on the menu.
Here’s What Affected Device Owners Can Do
Anyone currently in the market for a new device would be wise to take into consideration the likelihood of updates before purchasing. However, for those that already own one of these devices, there are still some things you can do to limit the impact of no security updates. The first is to decide whether the device is actually worth the risk of keeping or whether it is time to upgrade. As Which? points out, the older the version of Android running on a device, the greater the risk to begin with. While the newest version is Android 11, the most recently released is Android 10, and the lower the Android version number the more at risk the device could be. Owners can check their device’s current version (as well as whether there are any updates available) through the device’s settings, and usually within the “System” or “About” sections, although this may vary depending on the device.
Irrespective of the current Android version, if opting to keep hold of the device, then one precaution that might be worth taking is installing antivirus. This alone could be the difference between protecting a device and having it compromised without knowing - as long as it is not the antivirus that compromises the device. Additionally, being more aware in general of how the phone is used can also go a long way to increasing device (and data) security. For example, avoid clicking on internet or email links that look suspicious. Likewise, avoid downloading apps and content from unknown sources. With bad links and downloads being two of the most common ways hackers attack older and non-supported devices, limiting access to both of these will help to reduce the chances of an Android device becoming infected or compromised.
More: Law Enforcement Can Track Your Phone Without You Knowing, Here’s How
Source: Which?
