[Everything Goes]

While Google are busy patching insecure bit of Android the sad fact is the vast majority (my guess would be 95%) of users will never see these patches issued. Unless you own a Nexus then it will be ok. Most Android manufactures don't care about such things. Once you have an Android device the most you can expect is no updates what so ever. One day something serious will happen to Android that will be a wake up call. But I suspect even then most manufactures wont care.

Quote:

Google's mobile OS has picked up seven critical patches, ten classed as high priority, and a pair of moderately important fixes.

In short, playing back a booby-trapped video or receiving a message with malware hidden in it could lead to malicious code running on a vulnerable Android device that hasn't been patched.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03...curity_update/

[aurichie]

Most android users are aware of the risks now and know support and software updates are lousy. You either buy a nexus device, buy an iPhone, or you don't care about security. It's as simple as that.

[binary]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aurichie

Most android users are aware of the risks now and know support and software updates are lousy. You either buy a nexus device, buy an iPhone, or you don't care about security. It's as simple as that.

(My bolding.)

I disagree, savvy/power users might well be aware but there are an awful lot of other Android users out there and I'm certain they're not very clued up on the security issues, or simply don't know about them.

[IvanIV]

I am not sure they are aware or even bothered. Lousy updates are in the nature of how Android is used by manufacturers. They are busy trying to sell you their next phone with their modified version of the OS. Update is something that does not bring them money, a new phone does.

[prking]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanIV

I am not sure they are aware or even bothered. Lousy updates are in the nature of how Android is used by manufacturers. They are busy trying to sell you their next phone with their modified version of the OS. Update is something that does not bring them money, a new phone does.

Quite, most users don't care. Why would a manufacturer put much effort into security updates when the biggest risk to most smartphones is the user {sim PIN not enabled and no phone lock because its too much hassle; same password for every account or website; randomly tap on things etc etc). Look at how much effort Apple has to go to nagging users to update and then persuading them that the Facebook post they saw warning them not to update, because it will double your bill, was in fact wrong.

And when they do issue a software update they get complaints that it's eaten up a user's data allowance when they downloaded it; caused the handset to crash/lag/affected battery life because they don't update their apps.

Let's face it, your average smartphone user is dumb.