3 min learnNew DelhiFeb 10, 2026 11:47 AM IST
If you’re nonetheless utilizing an older Android telephone, it’s possible you’ll be extra weak than you realise. Google has now confirmed that over 40 per cent, multiple billion telephones, of all Android gadgets worldwide are now not protected by safety updates and are subsequently weak to malware and spyware and adware assaults.
It applies to telephones operating Android 12 or earlier which might be now not receiving vital safety patches. With out these updates, even probably the most cautious customers face rising dangers as cyber threats change into extra complicated.
Most Android telephones are nonetheless on older software program
Latest Android distribution figures spotlight the dimensions of the issue, in line with Google. Solely 57.9 per cent of Android telephones are operating Android 13 or newer. As of December, the most recent model, Android 16, was put in on simply 7.5 per cent of gadgets.
Android 15 accounted for 19.3 per cent, Android 14 for 17.2 per cent, and Android 13 for 13.9 per cent of telephones in use. Which means a big portion of lively Android customers are already falling behind on safety.
Telephones launched earlier than 2021 are largely affected, since many can’t be upgraded past Android 12.
Why are older companies extra harmful?
Whilst Google Play Defend continues to scan apps on Android 7 and above gadgets for potential threats, that is nonetheless not sufficient. It is because, with out ample safety updates for these gadgets, refined threats will nonetheless not be averted.
Google advises customers to improve to a telephone operating Android 13 or later. Usually, a mid-tier new telephone can supply higher safety than an older flagship telephone operating a earlier working system.
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Cuts in help from producers are additionally contributing to the chance. Based on Forbes, Samsung has “confirmed that the Galaxy S21 collection, S21+, and S21 Extremely telephones now not get any software program and safety updates.”
On the identical time, the Galaxy S22 collection and Galaxy S21 FE are actually on a quarterly patch schedule, making customers extra weak due to the longer intervals between patches.
In contrast to Apple, which controls each {hardware} and software program updates, Android updates depend upon producers. Many gadgets are dropped after a number of years, although they’re nonetheless in each day use.
How you can test in case your telephone is in danger
To see whether or not your telephone is affected:
1. Open Settings
2. Go to About telephone
3. Test your Android model
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In case your gadget is operating Android 12 or older and can’t be upgraded, safety consultants advocate changing it.
Unsupported Android telephones will be exploited to steal passwords, intercept messages, entry banking apps, and drain accounts. With greater than a billion gadgets now uncovered, Google is urging customers to behave rapidly to guard their private knowledge earlier than it’s too late.
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