From next September, almost a third of smartphones in circulation in the world will run an obsolete and unsupported version of the Android operating system. The launch of Android 13 in late summer will put an end to security updates for Android 10 by increasing the number of unsafe devices connecting to the internet.
One of the problems with the Android operating system is fragmentation, as Google has released many versions of Android over the past 14 years and continues to only support the last three. Unlike iOS, devices with Android versions launched even ten years ago are still in use and are much more widespread than one might imagine, as reported by data from Bitdefender Mobile Security.
Users rarely consider software support when buying a smartphone and generally until it fails and does what it takes, the device is not scrapped. On balance, when support for Android 10 disappears in September, 35% of Android devices running Bitdefender Mobile Security will not have support from Google.
Older devices provide a convenient gateway for the bad guys
The dated device is one of the best resources for the attacker, as it no longer receives security patches from the manufacturer and those who use them usually do not waste time updating the operating system and installed apps.
Aside from always considering the support period for any device when purchasing, it is a good idea to check if any of the smart devices in the smart home are running software that is no longer supported. Installing the Bitdefender Mobile Security app on older devices is a good idea, but it’s always best to switch to a device that still receives the security patches
