Google warns that approximately 1 billion Android users are at risk of being hacked.

According to the latest data from Google, nearly 40% of Android devices worldwide no longer receive regular security patches. This means that approximately 1 billion users could become targets of malware and sophisticated cyber espionage campaigns.

The problem is that Google no longer releases security patches for devices running Android 12 or earlier. This means that models released from 2021 onwards are also affected.

Without dedicated support from the manufacturer, there is virtually no protective shield against new threats.

According to Google's data, the versions that are still receiving security updates include: Android 16 (7.5%), Android 15 (19.3%), Android 14 (17.2%), and Android 13 (13.9%).

Meanwhile, versions that have stopped supporting security include: Android 12 (11.4%), Android 11 (13.7%), Android 10 (7.8%), Android 9 (4.5%), and Android 8 (2.3%).

Looking at these numbers, it's clear that nearly 40% of Android devices no longer receive official security patches.

Why do Android devices experience this problem?

The core reason is platform fragmentation. Android is developed by Google, but the operating system is installed on devices from hundreds of different manufacturers. Aside from Google's own Pixel line, the majority of Android smartphones come from third-party brands, each with its own update policies.

Optimizing the operating system for hundreds of different hardware configurations makes the update process complex and slow. As a result, the percentage of devices running the latest version of Android is extremely low; as of last December, only 7.5% of devices were using Android 16.

Meanwhile, the iPhone ecosystem shows a stark difference. According to StatCounter (Ireland), a company specializing in website traffic analysis and market share statistics for browsers, operating systems, and mobile devices globally, over 50% of iPhones have iOS 26 installed, and about 40% are using iOS 18. Apple's model of synchronized hardware and software control allows for significantly faster and more widespread updates.

Approximately 1 billion Android users are facing a difficult choice.

It is estimated that around 1 billion Android users are among those whose devices are no longer fully protected. Google recommends that users upgrade if their devices cannot be updated to Android 13 or later.

This isn't just marketing advice. Once a device stops receiving security patches, any newly discovered vulnerabilities will remain permanently on the machine. Hackers can exploit these weaknesses to steal login credentials, compromise bank and securities accounts, monitor online activity, and install spyware.

The consequences for Android users could be losing all the money in their accounts or having sensitive personal data leaked.

Is the Google Play Protect security feature safe enough?

Google says that the Google Play Protect feature still supports devices running Android 7 and above, providing real-time malware scanning and updated security signatures.

However, users need to understand that Play Protect is only an additional layer of defense. If the underlying operating system has a serious vulnerability that is not patched, this layer of protection cannot completely replace a system security update.

How can I check if my phone is at risk?

To check if your Android phone is among the devices at risk of security breaches, users should go toSetting> SelectIntroducing the phone> Check the itemAndroid version.

If your device is running Android 12 or earlier and there's no upgrade option, you should consider switching to a new device, not necessarily a high-end model, but one that supports Android 13 or later and has a long-term update commitment.

In short, upgrading equipment can be expensive, but the cost of a cyberattack is far greater. In the context of increasingly sophisticated threats, maintaining a fully security-updated device is not just an option, but a necessity for self-protection in the digital world.