Apparently, my Droid 4 is vulnerable to this, but it’s unlikely it’s actually hit me since a) I don’t do much with my phone and b) I don’t rely on Google for my data storage, other than contacts. But I don’t understand why they can’t patch. I don’t think I should have to upgrade my phone/OS in order to protect myself from this sort of thing.
8 thoughts on “An Android Hack”
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It’s all a matter of perspective, you paid for the phone and want it fixed, google gave you android for free and therefore don’t see why they should and the handset manufacturers are in the middle but really want you to buy more. So they all blame each other.
Even if Google release a patch, carriers won’t necessarily release it. I got an Android phone a couple of years ago, but the carrier never even released the final patch from the manufacturer, which came out a couple of months after I got the phone. This is why I now have an iPhone.
Android is a security nightmare. Though part of that is because they let you install third-party apps, unlike iOS. Which seems to have been what caused the problem here. Normally I’d like the freedom to do that, but I need a working phone a lot more than I need Third-Party Cat Picture Screen Saver.
iOS will allow you to install third party apps if you wish, Android will warn you if you install a third party app.
As I understand it, iOS won’t allow that through any route Joe Sixpack is likely to use. Doesn’t it require a jailbreak or some kind of developer system?
If you want several years of security updates, your best bet is an iPhone. I know you’ve stated your dislike for Apple products, and I’m not trying to convert you, but unfortunately (with rare exceptions) this is one of the tradeoffs with Android devices.
Food for thought: Free software and cellphones.
https://www.fsf.org/working-together/next-steps/free-software-phones
Not a yuge deal. Just don’t download & install third-party apps.
Ignoring battery issues, if you want a better Android vendor, Samsung is now releasing monthly security updates for their ‘flagship’ Galaxy S series. My 2 year old GS6 is on Android 6.0.1, last patched less than two weeks ago. Short of Google itself, I’ve not heard of any other vendors that have improved security patching as much as Samsung in the last couple of years.