If you are using an Android-powered smartphone, you may have found yourself wondering about updating your operating system. With names such as Lollipop, Kit Kat and Jelly Bean, it’s not always clear which is the latest version and what are the benefits of updating your device.
Why is it importIant to update?
Beyond their cute sounding names, each Android update brings new features, improvements and most importantly, security fixes.
It’s this last bit that matters most, as even basic activities like emails hold an enormous amount of valuable information about you. The latest versions of Android fix vulnerabilities that can help keep your data safe.
As of writing, the latest version of Android is 5.1, codenamed “Lollipop”. You can check which version your phone has by going into your settings, and into “About Phone”. (Tap on the Android Version section a few times for a surprise.) If you want to check if there’s an update available for you, you’ll find a Software update tab in this menu.
Most likely, there won’t be.
Why aren’t you receiving the update?
According to Google’s own stats, you’re most likely running an old version of Android. In fact, most of us are running Jelly Bean (Android 4.1, 4.2, 4.3) or Kit Kat (Android 4.4).
This is because Google doesn’t push updates directly to you. Instead, they are generally sent to phone manufacturers like Samsung, Sony and HTC. Manufacturers then make their own changes to the software, adding features to improve compatibility with their devices or differentiate themselves from their competition. If you got your phone through a carrier like Verizon, Vodafone or Orange, they will also certainly make additional changes to the update. This process can sometimes take over a year, so don’t hold your breath.
Often the whole process is so complicated and time consuming, that many manufacturers may not even issue an Android update more than once per phone. This encourages customers to purchase new handsets to get the latest updates.
What can you do to stay safe without an update?
While it’s possible to install up-to-date versions of Android yourself, the methods can be quite technical, risky and will certainly void your warranty. For most people this is not an option, and so updates are unobtainable, short of buying a new phone.
However, this should not stop you taking steps to protect your device.
That’s where having a strong antivirus app like AVG AntiVirus for Android becomes a must have. It will help keep you safe by keeping an eye on what happens in your phone, even if your phone is not updated. So stay protected!
