ANDROID owners with older devices have been warned that their phones will be at a much higher risk of hacking from next week.
Google is set to end its support for phones running Android 4.4 KitKat software in August, which impacts 47 devices currently on the market.
This means there will be no more Google Play updates from the next month onwards.
The decision comes nearly a decade after the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system was first released.
While Google noted in an Android Developers Blog that less than one per cent of all devices run Android KitKat, if you have a habit of holding onto phones for a long time – this could affect you.
Most manufacturers had already stopped supporting devices running Android KitKat, which means their security is already weakened.
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Many apps and games no longer support Android 4.4 either.
But there remain older versions of apps that users of this system may still use on a daily basis.
Google's decision to end support for Google Play Services for Android 4.4 will limit the apps and services available on these devices even more.
But on a more serious note, the decision means that Google's watchful eye over dodgy or corrupt apps will disappear.
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So the likelihood of being hacked is set to rise greatly from August.
If you own an impacted device, then it might be time to consider upgrading to a newer model.
To see if you're affected, check this list of devices:
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini LTE GT-i9195 1.5GB RAM 8GB
- Samsung Galaxy Note II GT-N7100 2GB RAM 16GB
- Samsung Galaxy Ace 4 SM-G357F 1GB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo Plus GT-i9060I Dual SIM 1GB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy K Zoom SM-C115 2GB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy A7 SM-A700F 2GB RAM 16GB
- Samsung Galaxy J1 DuoS SM-J100H Dual SIM 512MB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy Ace Style SM-G310H 512MB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 SM-G388F 1.5GB RAM 8GB
- Samsung Galaxy Note Edge SM-N915F 3GB RAM 32GB
- Samsung Galaxy Trend 2 Lite SM-G318H 512MB RAM
- Samsung Galaxy J1 SM-J100H 512MB RAM 4GB
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo LTE+ SM-N7505 2GB RAM 16GB
- Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime SM-G530F 1GB RAM 8GB
- Samsung Galaxy S5 Plus SM-G901F 2GB RAM 16GB
- Samsung Galaxy S III LTE GT-i9305 16GB
- Samsung Galaxy Young 2 SM-G130H Dual SIM 512MB RAM
- Sony Xperia E4g E2003 1GB RAM
- Sony Xperia T3 D5103 1GB RAM
- Sony Xperia C3 D2533
- Sony Xperia E3 D2203 1GB RAM
- Sony Xperia E4 E2105 1GB RAM
- Sony Xperia C3 Dual D2502
- LG G2 Mini D610 Dual SIM 8GB
- LG G Flex D955 2GB RAM 32GB
- LG F60 D390 1GB RAM
- LG L70 D320 1GB RAM
- LG L20 Dual SIM 512MB RAM
- LG L40 D160 512MB RAM
- HTC Desire 610 1GB RAM
- HTC Desire 620G
- HTC One Mini 2 1GB RAM 16GB
- HTC Desire 320 1GB RAM
- HTC Desire 820 2GB RAM 16GB
- HTC Desire 320 1GB RAM
- HTC One Mini 1GB RAM 16GB
- HTC One Max 2GB RAM 16GB
- HTC Desire 620 1GB RAM
- HTC Desire 816 1.5GB RAM
- HTC Desire 626 1GB RAM 16GB
- HTC Desire Eye 2GB RAM 16GB
- CAT S50 2GB RAM
- CAT B15Q Dual SIM 1GB RAM
- Huawei Ascend Mate 2GB RAM
- Yota Devices YotaPhone 2 2GB RAM 32GB
- Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 3 4027D Dual SIM 512MB RAM
- Doro Liberto 820 Mini 512MB RAM
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