Google Warns Over 1 Billion Android Phones Are Now at Risk

The report highlights that over 40% of Android devices—those on Android 12 or older—no longer receive critical OS-level security updates, significantly increasing exposure to threats, while manufacturers such as Samsung are scaling back long-term support on some models. Google clarifies recent confusion about Google Play system update dates as a cosmetic issue and notes that Play Protect continues to provide limited protection (e.g., malware signatures and real-time scanning) for older devices, though it cannot replace missing core security fixes.