Google has confirmed that devices running Android 12 or older no longer receive official security patches.
This policy change, reflected in the latest distribution data from February 2026, leaves approximately 42.1% of active Android devices—over one billion users—vulnerable to new malware and spyware attacks.
Critical details regarding this security transition include:
Unsupported Versions: Only Android versions 13, 14, 15, and 16 currently receive security support from Google. Support for Android 12 officially concluded on March 31, 2025.
Vulnerability Risks: Devices stuck on older versions are exposed to severe threats, including banking trojans and remote code execution vulnerabilities (such as CVE-2024-43093), for which no new system-level fixes will be issued.
Partial Protection: While Google Play Protect continues to scan apps for malware on devices running Android 7 or newer, it cannot patch deep system-level exploits.
Manufacturer Impact: Support for specific models like the Samsung Galaxy S21 series has ended, while other devices like the Pixel 6 and 7 have transitioned to a quarterly update schedule rather than monthly.
Google and security experts strongly recommend that users on unsupported software upgrade to a newer version if available or consider a replacement device that supports current security standards.
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