More than 40 % of Android devices worldwide — equating to over one billion smartphones — are now vulnerable to malware and spyware attacks, according to a new warning from Google and detailed in TechRepublic. The risk stems from a large portion of Android phones no longer receiving critical security updates, leaving users exposed to cyber threats.
In a TechRepublic report published February 9, 2026, journalist Kezia Jungco explains that Android devices running Android 12 or older are no longer supported with essential system-level security patches. As a result, users of these devices may be unable to defend against new and evolving threats that exploit unpatched vulnerabilities.
Android distribution data shows that only about 58 % of devices run Android 13 or newer, with a mere 7.5 % on Android 16, the most recent major build. The remainder remain on older releases that Google has phased out of full security support.
Security fragmentation is worsened by long-term update practices among handset makers. For example, Samsung has downgraded several of its Galaxy models to quarterly update cadences — or ceased support entirely — widening the window of exposure to security risks.
Despite the concerning statistics, Google notes that “Google Play Protect, Android’s built-in malware and unwanted software protection, continues to support devices as far back as Android 7”, offering limited ongoing protection through real-time malware scanning and updated threat signatures.
This development illustrates a broader tension within the Android ecosystem: while Android powers billions of devices globally, its open nature and varied manufacturer support schedules have contributed to a wide disparity in update coverage — with older devices falling behind and becoming attractive targets for attackers.
As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, the latest findings underscore the importance for users and businesses to stay current with security patches or consider upgrading unsupported devices to better protect personal and organizational data.
Material by Veronika Atanasova
IMAGE: Author – Paowee, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
