Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? It’s one thing to deal with a battery that doesn’t last a day and apps that crash to avoid spending a lot of change.
But using your phone after its end of life is a risky activity. The same goes for clicking on any link that comes your way. It’s a disappointment hackers integrate them into the results of artificial intelligence chatbots.
Let’s look at one of the simplest ways to keep your digital life secure: only use devices with the most recent security updates.
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Update on lifespan
Today the average lifespan of smartphones is around 2.5 years. It could be even less for some devices – between 15 and 18 months. That’s not much when phones cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Big brands like Apple and Samsung tend to have longer lifespans than smaller companies. here are the average Lifespan of some of today’s most popular phones:
◾ iPhone – 4 to 8 years old
◾ Samsung – 3 to 6 years
◾ Google Pixel – 3 to 5 years
◾ Huawei – 2 to 4 years
These are averages, which means your mileage may vary.
Find your number
The lifespan of your phone starts from the moment it was manufactured, not when you bought it. This makes keeping track of it all a bit tricky. If you don’t know when your phone was made, you can find out by doing some research.
◾ Do you have the original box of the phone? The date of manufacture must be indicated on the packaging or in any included documentation.
◾ If you threw away the box, the information should be listed in your phone’s settings under “About” or a similar option.
◾ You can also use your phone’s serial number to decipher the creation date. Many manufacturers hide the date or year in these numbers. The serial number is entered in your phone settings.
◾ There are also special dial codes and boot logging menus that can show you this information.
Are your eyes glassy? I thought so.
There is an easier way
Instead of following all the steps above, a great place to check your phone’s End of Life, or EOL for short, is to visit the site. end of life.date.
This simple site lists end-of-life dates and life cycles for devices, software, and more. It tracks 261 products and has iCal integration, so you can get a reminder when you need to upgrade something.
At the very top there is a search box. Type in your make and model, and presto, the information you need is right on the screen. Or choose from the four main manufacturers listed in the Devices line. If you can’t find your phone there, scroll through the full list of products and manufacturers in the left menu.
When you click on a manufacturer, its phones are listed in chronological order. You can view each phone’s release date, when it was discontinued, and whether the manufacturer still supports it.
It’s something serious
Using a phone beyond its EOL data causes problems. This is your case if you still use an iPhone 5C, Google Pixel 5 or Samsung S10S, among many others.
You won’t get the latest and greatest features and advancements, but that’s not the biggest problem.
Once a smartphone reaches its expiration date, the manufacturer no longer offers security updates to that device. This means that not all bugs and security issues in your phone will be fixed.
An outdated phone is a gold mine for hackers, who can quickly gain access to everything from your bank accounts and business information to your health data. They could even steal your voice using audio data from phone calls and voicemails.
Do yourself a favor and make sure your phone is safe and secure. If not, it’s time to start shopping!
Maintain your technical knowledge
My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando today.“It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions just like you, from all over the country. Look for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, click the link below for a recent episode.
PODCAST SELECTION:Block online war videos, New York house swaps and say goodbye to passwords
Moreover, a website that makes it easy to find any streaming movie. And hey, victims of the MGM cyberattack, Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club has a little something to catch you up. Health features your watch can track and how to keep your location off Google Maps.
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Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando”.
Discover all the latest technologies on the Kim Komando show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and gives advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacking. For his daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit his website.
