One billion Android devices are at risk and the only solution is through the wallet

The new data on the distribution of Android show a situation that is not very reassuring and is still very widespread. A large share of active devices are using versions of the operating system now overcomea choice that opens the door to vulnerability difficult to ignore.

The phenomenon concerns hundreds of millions of smartphones still in circulation, often held back out of necessity or habit. Lack of access to updates safety makes these phones though easier targets for attacks capable of steal personal data.

The latest data from StatCounter indicate that beyond the 30% of Android users still use stopped devices Android 13 or previous versions. This percentage equates to approx a billion of active smartphones that remain exposed to known attack techniques already resolved on the most recent versions.

There is nothing problematic in older versions of the system, but the real crux comes when a smartphone can no longer receive the updates released monthly.

Il Global Mobile Threat Report 2025 by Zimperium highlights how the absence of patches makes phones more fragile in the face of exploit in circulation.

Monthly updates almost never introduce visible features, but they close gapsthey correct bug and they contrast threats already identified. The latest package of Decemberfor example, solved 107 vulnerabilities. Without these types of interventions, the most recent attacks can act undisturbed.

However, support policies are changing. In the past it was normal to receive updates for two or three years, while today several manufacturers guarantee much longer periods, up to seven years both for the operating system and for security. Such broad coverage allows you to keep the same device for several years without being exposed, provided you have a relatively recent phone.

It is therefore good that support times have increased, but who will warn users that they don’t want to change phones why does it still work well? Unfortunately the longevity of a smartphone depends not only on the hardware aspect, but also on the software one, and ignoring the latter can cost much more expensive than a new model every five years, or so.