Petition about Android security updates

Randomface74 · 11 Mar 2020 at 15:12

You've probably seen the recent news about Android security updates:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51751950
https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/0...n-android-devices-at-risk-of-malware-threats/

I emailed my MP about this issue a few weeks back but haven't received a reply, so now it's petition time.

Click this link to sign the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300575

My petition:
Require phones to receive security updates for 5 years

Legislate that phones must recieve security updates for a minimum of 5 years after their UK release date.

Over 40% of Android users may no longer be receiving important security updates, potentially putting them at risk of malware, data loss and cyber attacks. Apple typically supports iPhones for around five years, and Microsoft will now continually update Windows 10 for the foreseeable future, having supported previous versions of Windows for up to a decade. People should not have to choose between using an insecure phone and replacing a perfectly good device.

Randomface74 · 18 Mar 2020 at 09:27

chroniclard said:
Its just not a big deal. Who hacks phones anyway.....

If we leave it to individuals they'll see their personal risk as small and do nothing about it. That's why someone needs to look at the whole ecosystem and try to improve it.

Randomface74 · 18 Mar 2020 at 09:50

TheOracle said:
so what was this new update feature which launched in android 9 all about? I forget the name, and looking online I think everyone else has to. Something else out of google which flopped.

Project Treble? (Android 8)
Link: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/05/here-comes-treble-modular-base-for.html
tl/dr: Makes it easier for manufacturers to roll out Android updates by decoupling manufacturer-specific code from Android.

Which is great of course, projects like this have to happen to updates to be made easier, quicker, more often, and for longer time.

It seems that despite being able to roll out updates easier, they're still choosing to do it for only 2-3 years, which is why intervention is necessary.

Randomface74 · 18 Mar 2020 at 10:56

Yeah, it's related though because the easiest way to keep everyone secure will be to keep them on the latest version.

Randomface74 · 7 May 2020 at 17:53

Just wonder if anyone has any further thoughts on this in light of the covid app coming soon. I've been reading the comments from the Isle of Wight people who installed the app today, and a lot of the discussion is from people who's devices are not supported.

Randomface74 · 8 May 2020 at 16:24

DataVampire said:
we are not allowed to have our mobiles on us.

I actually emailed the human rights committee about that exact issue earlier this week. I don't expect a reply, but at least they'll consider perhaps telling employers they can't do that. I wondered if it violates your human rights (health+life), I think it does, although the declaration of human rights wording is open to interpretation.