Security News > 2020 > March > One billion Android smartphones racking up security flaws
How long do Android smartphones and tablets continue to receive security updates after they're purchased?
Many millions of users hang on to their Android devices for much longer, which raises questions about their ongoing security as the number of serious vulnerabilities continues to grow.
Add up all the Android handsets no longer being updated and you get big numbers - according to Google's developer dashboard last May, almost 40% of Android users still use handsets running versions 5.0 to version 7.0, which haven't been updated for between one and four years.
It's not simply that these devices aren't getting security fixes but older models also miss out on a bundle of security and privacy enhancements that Google has added to versions 9 and 10.
We provide security updates with bug fixes and other protections every month, and continually work with hardware and carrier partners to ensure that Android users have a fast, safe experience with their devices.