Android 8.0 Phones: Are They Still Safe to Use?

It has been nearly seven years since the Android 8.0 "Oreo" was first launched to become one of the most widely-used Android versions during its prime.

However, since Google stopped issuing security updates on the Oreo OS in 2021, safety and security concerns now loom over the Android system still operating across many older devices.

Cons of Using Older Android OS

To understand the relevance of older OS versions like Android 8, one must first know why new versions are released almost every year.

Device systems providers like Google and Apple often phase out older operating systems to newer versions to integrate more features only suitable to more modern systems.

This is not to mention its compatibility with more newer versions of apps that require certain functions only available in new OS devices.

Another reason is to reduce costs in maintaining older OS from cyberattacks, performance issues, and system vulnerabilities inherent in its code.

Keeping a phone in an older OS version would usually mean depriving the device access to most internet-based apps and features, as well as exposing it more to cyber threats.

More Unresolved Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

In the same manner, Android 8 and older OS versions contain more zero-day vulnerabilities Google has only patched out in newer releases.

This would mean that older phones are much more likely to have their data exposed to hackers and exploits due to the age of the system they operate on.

This is not to mention how cyberattack schemes have only become more sophisticated and powerful compared to their threat when Android 8.0 first came out.

Lack of Software Updates Poses Risks to Device's Longevity

With no security or software updates anymore, devices still operating on Android 8.0 are also more likely to have a shorter lifespan than the intended longevity for its hardware.

This is due to system glitches and issues that would no longer be patched out of the device, further hindering its performance and processing abilities.

In turn, these issues would lessen the device's capabilities to handle security threats and other analysis functions.