One billion Android devices at risk of hacking:
More than a billion Android devices are at risk of being hacked because they are no longer protected by security updates, watchdog Which? has suggested.
The vulnerability could leave users around the world exposed to the danger of data theft, ransom demands and other malware attacks.
Anyone using an Android phone released in 2012 or earlier should be especially concerned, it said.
[...] Google's own data suggests that 42.1% of Android users worldwide are on version 6.0 of its operating system or below.
According to the Android security bulletin, there were no security patches issued for the Android system in 2019 for versions below 7.0.
[...] How to check whether your phone is vulnerable and what to do
- If your Android device is more than two years old, check whether it can be updated to a newer version of the operating system. If you are on an earlier version than Android 7.0 Nougat, try to update via Settings SystemAdvanced System update
- If you can't update, your phone could be at risk of being hacked, especially if you are running a version of Android 4 or lower. If this is the case be careful about downloading apps outside the Google Play store
- Also be wary of suspicious SMS or MMS messages
- Back up data in at least two places (a hard drive and a cloud service)
- Install a mobile anti-virus via an app, but bear in mind that the choice is limited for older phones
File this one under "well, duh." Consumer mag Which? today published research estimating that over a billion Android devices are vulnerable to hackers and malware as they are not receiving security updates.
Data obtained from Google by the publication found that 42.1 per cent of active Android users are languishing on version 6.0 or earlier.
The most current version of Android is version 10, while Android 9.0 Pie and Android 8.0 Oreo continue to receive updates. The Chocolate Factory is expected to release a major update to the world's most popular mobile operating system, Android 11, later this year.
Anything below Android 8.0, therefore, is vulnerable. Extrapolating from the data, Which? believes that almost one billion Android phones are inherently vulnerable.
Compounding the problem is the proliferation of older devices on sites like Amazon, where they're sold by third parties. The mag bought a handful of phones – including the Motorola X, Sony Xperia Z2, and Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 – and found they were susceptible to a host of long-discovered vulnerabilities, including Stagefright, Bluefrag and the Joker Android malware.
Which? is encouraging those with older phones who can't update to take sensible precautions – such as avoiding side-loaded apps and ensuring their data is backed up.
Previously:
Vulnerability in Fully Patched Android Phones Under Active Attack by Bank Thieves
Major Security Bug Called StrandHogg Discovered in All Android Versions
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 07 2020, @07:46AM (3 children)
It is unfortunate that, with Android, getting a security patch is locking you out of your best chances to gain true control of your own device, rather than having only whatever control Google deigns fit to grant you.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 07 2020, @07:59AM (2 children)
fortunately we can run to their competitor - you forget to mention their name tho. anyone? wide open for a plug here - anyone? sony where are you?
(Score: 3, Informative) by petecox on Saturday March 07 2020, @11:04AM (1 child)
Project Sandcastle? Running Linux on a jailbroken iPhone 7 [projectsandcastle.org]
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 08 2020, @11:34PM
Unfortunately, in yet another bid to keep their grimy mitts firmly around the throat of their customers, the company behind Project Sandcastle seems to have a lawsuit against them by Apple for daring to use an iPhone for a purpose that Apple has not approved [arstechnica.com].
And the Apple fanboys will continue to throw their wallets at Tim Cook... until sooner or later they'll be bound to continue to do so by a EULA. Maybe they already are.