If you are still running Android 6.0 or earlier, you are vulnerable to malware. Currently, more than one billion Android devices worldwide are no longer supported by security updates, and they are all very vulnerable.
According to the policy in Android Security Bulletins, no security patches for Android systems below 7.0 (Nougat) have been released in 2019.
This means that more than 1 billion phones and tablets are active worldwide but will no longer receive security updates.
40% of Android devices no longer receive important security updates from Google, which puts them at greater risk of malware or other security breaches.
Android 10 is the latest version. Although it and its predecessor's Android 9 (Pie) and 8 (Oreo) are still receiving security updates, using any device lower than Android 8 poses a security risk.
According to data released by Google last year, about 40% of active Android users worldwide are using version 6.0 or earlier: Marshmallow (2015), Lollipop (2014), KitKat (2013), Jellybean (2012), Ice Cream Sandwich (2011) And Gingerbread (2010).
Some people have verified many Android devices that have been in use for three years, and most of them can only run Android 7.0.
The results showed that security experts hired by consumer groups were able to infect all devices with malware, some of which were infected multiple times.
All the phones tested were successfully infected with Joker (also known as Bread) malware. In addition, every device tested was also infected with Bluefrag. This is a serious security vulnerability and is mainly targeted at the Android Bluetooth component.
In fact, for how long updates should be provided for smart devices so that consumers can make informed purchase decisions, and once security updates are no longer available, how can customers get better information about their choices? With greater transparency.
Google says they have been working to improve the security of Android devices. They provide security updates, bug fixes, and other protections every month, and continue to work with hardware and carrier partners to ensure that Android users have a fast and secure experience.
However, the time it takes to deliver an operating system security update depends on the device, manufacturer, and mobile operator.
Because smartphone manufacturers customize certain parts of the Android operating system, they typically deploy patches and updates more slowly than Google deploys on their devices, or they do not deploy at all.
