If you use an Android phone, you’ll almost certainly get periodic notifications about available security updates.
But what are security updates and just how important are they to your Android smartphone?
Let’s take a look.
What Are Android Security Updates?
To better understand security updates, think of your Android smartphone as a military outpost.
It could be heavily fortified but have a secret passageway that no one knows about.
As long as the enemy doesn’t use the secret passageway, the outpost is safe.
But it doesn’t mean the passageway isn’t there.
Once the enemy finds out about it, it’s a big problem for that outpost.
Similarly, if your Android smartphone has security flaws, you could be using your machine quite normally.
But it doesn’t mean the problems don’t exist, they do.
This is why it is important to buysmartphone brands that are great with security updates.
So, do those Android security updates matter?
How Important Are Android Security Updates?
But it is, and here’s why.
The Android OS, despite years of improvement, is not perfect.
As new features roll in, new flaws tag along.
Why Doesn’t Google Fix Android’s Security Problems Before Launch?
Google’s Android development team tries to do so.
This does not mean that they intentionally ship the OS with flaws.
Android Is Open Source
There’s another reason why you should embrace security updates.
They can also add new proprietary code to add new brand-specific features to their product.
This makes it very important to grab every security update you’re free to.
And that’s a good thing.
Who would think receiving an MMS would be a security risk?
The vulnerability was fixed in updates starting from Android version 5.0.2.
It was fixed by updates starting from Android 6.0.1.
It was fixed in updates starting from version 8.0.
A similarBluetooth-related vulnerability was fixed with December 2022 security updates.
It was fixed in updates around Android 10.
You never know which security vulnerability the next updates you get would fix.
So why risk it?
Grab every security update that comes your way whenever you’re able to.
