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More than one billion Android smartphones worldwide are now exposed to heightened cybersecurity risks after Google confirmed that devices running Android 12 or older no longer receive security patches, according to Android distribution data cited by Moneycontrol.
The move has left an estimated 42.1 per cent of Android devices vulnerable to new malware and spyware threats. Latest platform distribution figures show that only 57.9 per cent of Android phones are running Android 13 or newer, meaning everything below that threshold is no longer protected by system-level security updates.
Phones launched in 2021 or earlier are among the most affected, and the situation has seen little improvement over the past year. As a result, roughly one billion Android users remain on unsupported software versions, effectively frozen from a security standpoint.
Industry observers have long pointed to Android’s fragmentation problem as the root cause. While Google develops the Android operating system, it does not control update schedules for most manufacturers outside its Pixel lineup. Companies such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Motorola manage their own software timelines and often stop supporting devices after just a few years.
This stands in contrast to Apple’s vertically integrated approach, which allows it to push operating system and security updates to older iPhones more consistently.
The data highlights how limited adoption of the latest Android versions remains. Only 7.5 per cent of Android phones currently run Android 16, while 19.3 per cent are on Android 15, 17.2 per cent on Android 14 and 13.9 per cent on Android 13. Devices still receiving security updates account for just over half the Android ecosystem.
Meanwhile, Android versions that no longer receive security patches include Android 12 at 11.4 per cent, Android 11 at 13.7 per cent, Android 10 at 7.8 per cent, Android 9 at 4.5 per cent and Android 8 at 2.3 per cent. In total, more than four in every ten Android phones now sit outside Google’s official security coverage.
By comparison, StatCounter data shows that around 50 per cent of iPhones run iOS 26, while another 40 per cent remain on iOS 18, the previous version. Even with slower adoption following Apple’s Liquid Glass redesign, the gap between Android and iOS update distribution remains wide.
Users can check whether their Android device is affected by opening Settings, navigating to About phone and checking the Android version. Devices running Android 12 or older that cannot be upgraded are no longer receiving security patches from Google.
Google’s guidance to users is clear. If a device cannot move beyond Android 12, it should be replaced. The company has emphasised that this does not require purchasing a flagship handset, noting that modern mid-range smartphones running Android 13 or later continue to receive monthly security updates and offer significantly stronger protection than older premium devices stuck on outdated software.
Google has also pointed out that its Play Protect service continues to function on Android 7 and newer, offering malware scanning and updated threat signatures. A Google spokesperson told Forbes that unsupported devices still benefit from real-time malware scanning. However, the company acknowledged that Play Protect cannot replace missing system-level security patches, which are essential for preventing advanced exploits.
Security experts warn that the risks are not theoretical. Malware infections can lead to stolen usernames and passwords, unauthorised access to banking and trading applications, interception of messages and authentication codes, and direct financial losses.
With around one billion Android users now running unsupported software, Google has made its position clear. Continuing to use an unpatched device is a calculated risk, and users must choose whether to accept that exposure or upgrade to a phone that still receives security updates.
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