Android The phone will receive security updates every month until the phone’s software support life cycle ends. These security updates will never change the way the phone works or bring new features, but it may have a more significant impact on the phone than any Android operating system update. Security updates protect phones from hackers by removing vulnerabilities, patching errors, and fixing issues. These updates are created by Google and sent to various Android manufacturers, who then push them to their brand of devices.
Why is keeping Android security updated now more than ever?
Android security has come a long way over the years, and the best way to keep your device safe is to follow basic security principles when using it, but you should still make sure your phone is always up to date with Android security updates.
The incidence of operational threats has increased dramatically
The rate of cyberattacks on Android devices has increased dramatically in recent months, and malicious actors are developing consistent methods to collect data and take over user devices, often in the form of phishing attacks that no security updates can stop. If you click on a suspicious link and enter your personal details, Google can’t help you in any way.
There are other ways Google can help you protect against increasing cyberattacks, and while zero-day exploits have remained relatively stable, Google has proven effective at blocking new vulnerabilities before they are discovered. Just because Google found a vulnerability and fixed it immediately doesn’t mean that hackers won’t try to exploit it, because hackers know that not everyone updates regularly, and the only way you want to benefit from this is to update your device.
The longer you ignore security updates, the more vulnerable you are to attacks
Think of your mobile phone security as a brick wall. There is a bad guy who keeps throwing rocks at it. One or two rocks may not cause immediate damage, but as time goes by, the brick wall begins to age, become mottled, and even bricks fall. Slowly, the rocks may break through it. And Google security updates are like a mason, instantly adding missing bricks and repairing damage. Imagine that every time Google wants to help you patch up the wall, you refuse, and the brick wall will suffer more damage due to disrepair.
Ignoring security updates creates more holes in the security wall that hackers can exploit. Missing an update or two isn’t a big deal, but the more security updates you miss, the more dangerous it becomes. Just because you’re not at risk of exploits detailed in the latest security updates now, doesn’t mean you won’t be vulnerable in the future.
Zero-day vulnerability leaves phones vulnerable
In April 2025, Google rolled out a security update that fixed two vulnerabilities that were actively exploited by hackers. These vulnerabilities could allow remote users to upgrade their authorization on your phone and travel around your phone without your knowledge. The rate of zero-day exploits on Android has been relatively stable over the past few years, but as more Android devices are released, the opportunity for new vulnerabilities to be obtained through third-party applications will increase. These vulnerabilities are called zero-day vulnerabilities because they exploit unknown security holes in the Android operating system, in other words, the first person to discover the vulnerability is a malicious actor.
Once a hacker discovers a zero-day vulnerability, Google begins a race against time to find and roll out an update. The longer it takes Google, the more time the hacker has access to your device. If you don’t work in a sensitive industry like banking or government, you probably won’t be on the priority list for zero-day hackers. Nonetheless, your device and personal data are vulnerable and the only solution is to update your device as soon as possible.
As with the April security updates, these updates may be rolled out at irregular intervals, so if you see news of a recent security vulnerability online, check manually for updates immediately.
Security updates go hand in hand with operating system updates
Advanced Protection Mode in Android 16 combines existing, new, and upcoming security features behind the same switch. When enabled, your Android phone will activate various protection measures to provide protection. For example, it prevents your device from reconnecting to unsecured Wi-Fi environments, stores security logs using end-to-end encryption, and only allows USB connections to charge your phone when the device is locked.
These features are powerful but rely on security updates to function. For example, Advanced Protection Mode will prevent you from downloading unknown apps, so you will only be able to download apps from apps that come pre-installed on your phone (such as the Play Store), placing your downloads behind the Play Protection Plan. Installing security updates regularly will make features like Advanced Protection Mode more effective. Advanced Protected Mode is the biggest security feature Google has rolled out in years, but it won’t be the last.
Source: KOCPC Chinese