Today it was published a two-year study for its security updates Android. The research revealed a terrifying gap between software patches and the companies that make Android devices. Your phone manufacturer may have lied to you about the security of your device. In fact, it seems that almost all manufacturers do this.
After a week of listening to his hearings Mark Zuckerberg in Congress and constant privacy reports on Facebook, the results of the study may seem less significant, but they deal with the same issue: the issue of trust.
Facebook is probably the least trusted online platform but also Android seems to be something on the same level when looking at operating systems. It is used by 2 billion people worldwide, and is very susceptible to vulnerabilities that can reveal sensitive details of its users' private lives.
The big difference between Android and iOS Apple has always been trust. Apple, unlike Google, does not earn money by watching the behavior of users, and unlike the vast and varied Android ecosystem, there is only one iPhone, updated regularly. With just one iPhone, the company can set priorities, although Apple is not famous for its directness (as far as updates are concerned at least).
Android is considered unreliable because it is heavily. Below we will see some issues that make the platform unreliable:
New builds are slow, if they reach your device at all. Android Oreo has been out for almost eight months now, which means we'll be seeing a new big one soon version. But LG is still preparing to roll out the OS to the 6 LG G2017.
Promises for updates on Android devices are fairy tales. The market that constantly wants new bigger chips does not allow manufacturers to promise regular updates due to incompatibility. So the devices often stay with the Android version they bought, at best, to upgrade a version above.
Chip suppliers along with device manufacturers and Google developers should work together more, but as you can see the parts are many, and the interest demands faster productthe, new devices, more hardware additions.
Google is obviously aware of the situation and for the first time with Android One has given more time support assurance. Android One guarantees updates to new features for at least two years and security updates for at least three years. But as with most Android, Android One is only available on some devices, most of which are pretty expensive.
Some Android device manufacturers are watching. This problem is not due to the operating system itself, but it still spoils the reputation of Android. Android mobile phone makers usually have their bloatware devices, and we've often seen them have spyware. Blu devices have been downloaded from Amazon because they allowed remote connections and hidden by the user, user text messages and call records. Its devices OnePlus forwarding personal data and identifiers to the headquarters of the company without the explicit consent of the user.
Hardware development for Android is chaotic and unreliable. For many, the chaotic new Android device traffic is part of its charm. However, the disadvantage of this speed is the lack of attention given to small details but also to long-term viability.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 is the best example of the wretched consequences that can come from a hasty and overly ambitious hardware development cycle. Let's remind them explosions, or the withdrawal of the device;
In addition to hearing updates and not seeing updates, except threats to our personal data, Android device manufacturers tend to exaggerate what their phones can actually do. They don't cooperate and despite their best efforts continue to fuel the old solid reputation of an insecure operating system.
The problem of trust with Android, as well as the problem of trust in Facebook, is real. It does not matter that there are also Android device manufacturers not involved in privacy scandals. Every rule needs exceptions to confirm it.
First publication TheVerge, our "sauces".