Why it’s dangerous to keep using your very old iPhone, Samsung or Android mobile
USING an old iPhone or Android handset could put you at risk of devastating hack attacks.
That's according to top cyber experts who urge anyone with older models to upgrade to new, safer devices.
Hacks could include spying on you or stealing your private information.
And phones can be "old" in terms of no longer receiving software updates after just a year or two.
Tech giants regularly cut off older gadgets as it's not practical to continually update all phones – but it leaves long-term users at risk.
"Unsupported software and devices are incredibly dangerous for consumers as there’s no protection from cybercriminals," Brian Higgins, security specialist at Comparitech.com, told The Sun.
"Not only will all the vulnerabilities be common knowledge among the criminal community, users can’t download antivirus software to protect against them."
Unsupported devices won't accept any current security patches, making them "incredibly vulnerable to attack".
"Photos, social media networks, contacts and bank details are just a few forms of proprietary data criminals can use to make money, and keeping all of those personal details on old, unsupported phones is basically an open invitation to cybercriminals to steal them.
"Not only should people discard (and hopefully recycle) old, unsupported devices as soon as they can, they need to make sure they patch their new phones as soon as updates are released."
It's shocking how quickly phones can become obsolete in terms of security updates.
The iPhone 6 and any older models can't upgrade to Apple's latest iOS 13 software.
Older models will be stuck on increasingly outdated software that puts them at risk of being hacked.
The situation is even worse for Android phones, many of which stop receiving updates after just two or three years.
In some cases, Android phones have even been cut off from updates after a year or less.
Old gadgets are like 'asbestos in the home'
Here's what Javvad Malik, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, told The Sun...
- "All devices have a finite shelf life. Usually after a few years it does not remain possible to keep them updated so they can protect you against the latest threats.
- "Some of this is due to hardware limitations, others are due to unforeseen changes in the software functionality.
- "For example, lead in paints, or asbestos was common in older buildings.
- "When the health dangers became more widely known, certain preventative measures were put in place.
- "But today, if one has a building with asbestos in it, the best option is to have it completely removed by a professional - even if functionally it seems to be doing the job.
- "The underlying risks are too great to ignore."
Hackers see these old devices as easy targets, and can assault your phone in many different ways.
"By using older models that no longer support upgrades to the most recent Operating System of Android or iPhone, users leave themselves open to being spied on or having their information stolen," said Ciaran Byrne, a cyber-expert at edgescan.
"Risks include malicious likes sent via SMS or WhatsApp, virus-ridden apps available on the AppStore and Play Store, and even attackers connecting to the device through Bluetooth, if in close proximity.
"Newer phones, and newer OS/Android versions, will have mitigation in place for any of these attacks, as the developers will have updated the code to prevent them from happening."
You can be browsing the web and find yourself being hacked – and your old device won't have the necessary protections to stop it.
"Users of such outdated devices are then at risk for attacks for example when just browsing the wrong website," said Martin Jartelius, a cyber-expert at Outpost24.
"The lifespan of a device is no longer dictated by how long a phone will function technically, but for how long a company will provide updates and maintenance."
It's important to check online to see if your device is still receiving software updates.
If it isn't, cyber-experts say the best course of action is to switch to a newer device that still receives security patches.
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Do you upgrade your phone due to security concerns? Let us know in the comments!
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