topic Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk in Discussions & Feedback

One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Bambino — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:27:27 GMT

Older phones don't get OS security updates.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51751950

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

JamieB14 — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:38:10 GMT

Was literally just going to post this 😂

I just hope the manufacturers of the devices provide security patches for those with older versions of Android OS

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:43:07 GMT

@JamieB14 wrote:
Was literally just going to post this 😂

I just hope the manufacturers of the devices provide security patches for those with older versions of Android OS

As if.. They want you to fork out for a new one..good job they're cheap as chips!

(Apple ftw)

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

jonsie — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:43:43 GMT

I have two older phones and a tablet that no longer get updates. There's always some sort of scare going around about Android. Just saying...

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Bambino — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:19:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
As if.. They want you to fork out for a new one..good job they're cheap as chips!

(Apple ftw)

Whilst there are many middle and lower end Android phones that are inexpensive, I'd hardly call the price of a new Samsung or Sony, or even Motorola and Huawei high end phones 'cheap as chips' @Anonymous

I do understand the built in obsolesence in order to get consumers to upgrade, but there are many people who just get comfortable with what they own, and have no need for the 'latest and greatest'.

I don't think there would be any harm in Android at the very least issuing security updates for some of the not so old OS's maybe going back 4 or 5 years?

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:35:30 GMT

@Bambino wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
As if.. They want you to fork out for a new one..good job they're cheap as chips!

(Apple ftw)

Whilst there are many middle and lower end Android phones that are inexpensive, I'd hardly call the price of a new Samsung or Sony, or even Motorola and Huawei high end phones 'cheap as chips' @Anonymous
I do understand the built in obsolesence in order to get consumers to upgrade, but there are many people who just get comfortable with what they own, and have no need for the 'latest and greatest'.
I don't think there would be any harm in Android at the very least issuing security updates for some of the not so old OS's maybe going back 4 or 5 years?

£100-£150 will get you a perfectly adequate Android phone, with a few years worth of updates. (I tried an A10 the other day and was pleasantly surprised)

And it's alright Android being updated but then you have get app makers to do the same.. and they won't. So what's the point.. none? (We'll have to agree to disagree)

and if people want to risk losing their hard earned cash / personal details because they refuse to keep up with technology then more fool them.. I lock my door at night because I want to feel secure, it doesn't mean I am secure, but it lessens the chances.. the same with a phone no?

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:39:51 GMT

My Xperia L1 runs out of 24 month contract in June when I would usually just upgrade at the O2 store in Skipton - £200 ish

I am not driven to buy the most recent have to have in anything in my life really

I am just not made that way

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Bambino — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 17:03:38 GMT

I'm not disagreeing with you, @Anonymous. I'm just saying that an A10 might be inexpensive, but a new S20 is most definitely not.

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 18:21:04 GMT

@Bambino wrote:
I'm not disagreeing with you, @Anonymous. I'm just saying that an A10 might be inexpensive, but a new S20 is most definitely not.

I'm with you all the way!

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Cleoriff — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 18:26:34 GMT

I really agree with this statement in the article

"It's very concerning that expensive Android devices have such a short shelf life before they lose security support, leaving millions of users at risk of serious consequences if they fall victim to hackers"

Also pleased that I do NOT have any banking apps on my phone at all!!.

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

liggerz87 — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 11:23:53 GMT

Google actually wants oems to update to 2 big os updates like android pie 9 to android 10 and least 2 years of security updates

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 13:44:35 GMT

@liggerz87 wrote:
Google actually wants oems to update to 2 big os updates like android pie 9 to android 10 and least 2 years of security updates

If you're coughing up £100-150 for a phone 2 years isn't too bad, but surely paying 10x £££ that should get you 10x that? (I'm trying not to compare Apple here, someone do it for me please!!!!)

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 14:28:06 GMT

One of a number of reasons why I stick to low end devices (£250 tops) and stick with SIM free as mobile networks sit on firmware for ages on the grounds that they are 'optimising the customer experience' (so injecting branding and apps), also seen it put on this very forum that baseband had to be tweaked so a phone didn't over signal.

While I'm not a mobile network engineer I'm a little suspect of that one as isn't that why there are ratified standards?

But we digress.......

Perhaps there's an argument for Android to be more like Linux or Windows which would allow upgrades so long as the hardware is capable with the drivers being added on separately though to do this might need any upgrades to be done from a PC or Mac.

Apple have pretty much continued to sell directly to the end customer whereas the Android manufacturers have to appeal to the operators/service providers because they are their biggest customer accounts.

Hardware running Android is also more varied crucially the base is open source so stuff gets developed quicker and features that Android had years ago take several versions of the iPhone to appear...

Just sayin....

Re: One Billion Android Phones At Risk

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:05:21 GMT

Is there a definitive list of devices that are still getting Android OS &/or security updates? Please?