The Android Fragmentation Problem

One of the biggest issues of the Android OS is its fragmentation problem. We’ve covered this before – about how almost all Android updates have to pass through both device manufacturers and service providers before getting to end users. Unfortunately, this process is not quick or assured, which results in fragmentation: multiple versions of Android are present and in use.

This results in a many users being stuck with an outdated version of Android that may be riddled with vulnerabilities and security flaws. As of May 1, only 2.3% of Android devices in use are actually on the latest version, with more than a third still using Gingerbread – a version last updated in September 2011, and known to have 3-11 vulnerabilities, with the exact number depending on the specific version.

Leaving users on older versions of Android has two consequences: vulnerabilities are left unpatched, and new features won’t reach them. At this year’s Google I/O developer conference, Google announced plans to fix at least part of this problem: instead of rolling out a new version, they instead announced updates to core apps. This allows them to add new features to Android, while at the same time not needing to push a completely new version out to users. It does not solve all potential problems due to fragmentation, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Out latest monthly mobile report looks at this issue in full. It discusses the root of the problem itself, why it’s become a long-standing complaint, and how it may be a problem that may take Google a very long time to straighten out. Find out what you can do to help secure yourself and your device better if you are affected by this problem. We also have our infographic for an illustrated glance at the issue.

Post from: Trendlabs Security Intelligence Blog – by Trend Micro

The Android Fragmentation Problem