What are the risks of using very old version of Android?

Hi.

I've got an over 4 years old smartphone. It's version of Android is 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean). What are the risks of using this? Can my SIM card get hacked? Can my home network get compromised?

Thanks.

I don't have a specific answer, and of course a phone is a fairly self-contained device, but I do think that you might wish to see if you can somehow upgrade the version of Android that is on that phone.

Every security issue that has been discovered will be in that device forrrreeeevvvvveeerrr. Thanks Google.

Posting on my unsupported Parrot operating system on this chromebook .

Waiting on my liquid solder syringe that will inject chemical epoxy like solder through a needle to jumper out my write protect socket on this Acer C710. Tinfoil jumper and other methods were a washout. Linux current something or another will make it on here eventually thanks to John Lewis.

Hell. My wife has one of those early IBM Pads with I think Android 2.something on it that she still uses.

She is white collar worker and is not sweating our bank account getting hacked.
I bet your doctors office is more weaker than your phone.

With all the over population on this planet. Wearing the tin foil hat thinking it is all about you.
Might just be a bunch of chicken little on too little of subject. You.

Hell. Right after Windows, Facebook, and every one else from Twitter to Target has let go dark web info on users. Why worry? I sure don't.

it is worth checking out xda developers or some such to see if this device's OS can be upgraded.

if not, and something i recommend in any case:

uninstall ALL google apps, and use apps from f-droid instead.
adding the right repos, you have access to constantly updated, non-proprietary versions of firefox, for example.

I don't think there is much to worry about using older versions of Android, as most people don't have anything important on these types of machines, of course I wouldn't use it for online banking, but that's just me, I like to clear my ram after all transactions, so use a desktop for that.

Fundamentally, I do not consider that phones were ever designed to be "secure devices," so I would never use one for banking, use a service like "Google Pay" or "Apple Pay," or store anything at all of particular value or importance on it.

When the FBI advertised on the news media that it wanted Apple's help to crack the San Bernardino killers smartphone, but Apple refused, so the FBI hired hackers, it was all a ruse to placate the populace that phones are secure.

But for $1400 you can by software that will change the password on any smartphone, even if it's been locked.
https://www.elcomsoft.com/eift.html?r1=pr&r2=ios10
https://www.msab.com/products/xry/

Originally Posted by sundialsvcs Fundamentally, I do not consider that phones were ever designed to be "secure devices," so I would never use one for banking, use a service like "Google Pay" or "Apple Pay," or store anything at all of particular value or importance on it.

Same I do not use any banking on my ivybitch cpu loobphole notebook or on android. I only do banking on the bank terminals which are in the bank.

I would not recommend using email or any personal data on such a phone with such an outdated android. I think my nexus 4 had as first os something like 4.1.x android.

for a reasonable price you get a phone with recent up to date custom rom functionality. as e-mails are something personal and other things, i may recommend to replace your phone when it is not custom rom supported.

I also assume that you do not use facebook / whatsapp of course!

Originally Posted by sundialsvcs I don't have a specific answer, and of course a phone is a fairly self-contained device, but I do think that you might wish to see if you can somehow upgrade the version of Android that is on that phone.

Hi sundialsvcs. The phone cannot be upgraded.

Originally Posted by ondoho it is worth checking out xda developers or some such to see if this device's OS can be upgraded. if not, and something i recommend in any case: uninstall ALL google apps, and use apps from f-droid instead. adding the right repos, you have access to constantly updated, non-proprietary versions of firefox, for example.

Hi ondoho. Upgrading is not possible. I stopped using the google play store a long time ago. I've used F-Droid for a good while now.

The only things I use the smartphone for are podcasts, Telegram, taking photos/videos, recording audio. Nothing too sensitive except Telegram perhaps.