Security specialists Bit9 has released a new report that suggests the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is the third most vulnerable smartphone. The list compromises “devices that pose the most serious security and privacy risk to consumers and corporations“. The most vulnerable device is the Samsung Galaxy Mini according to the report, with the HTC Desire in second place.
I’m unsure of the exact methodology Bit9 use to determine which phones are most vulnerable but the version of Android and timeliness of updates appears to play a part. They suggest this means that “security vulnerabilities are not being maintained, bugs are not being patched, and loopholes in your system are being left open“. The last firmware for the X10 was 2.3.3 and the latest from Google is 2.3.7 (ignoring ICS for now). This seems a bit harsh to us considering that the 2011 Xperia line-up is only on Android 2.3.4. We’re sure Bit9 is talking its own book here but the infographic below is an interesting read nonetheless.
The full ‘Orphan Android’ report can be read here.
18 responses to “Bit9 says Xperia X10 is third most vulnerable smartphone”
A little additional information:
the core system of the 2011 Xperia range is Android 2.3.4 but there are already a lots of patches and security fixes integrated from Android 2.3.6… I was talking about that with an SE Product Manager and he told me this…
so for the 2011 xperia range we have the same security like Android 2.3.6 Devices have…
Thanks, that’s good to know!
Going to take this with a grain of salt. Their definition of “Most Vulnerable” is “Running out-dated version of Android OS and has the largest lag between updates”. How then would the IPhone make the honorable mention list at #13, that device doesn’t even run Android… Besides that the list, according to them, consists mainly of EOL products. Looks to me like someone wasted a lot of time coming up with useless statistics…
no where is safe!!
The X10 is a pretty popular model in Japan – really the first Android phone to sell in big numbers here – and Docomo has never updated it from 2.1. So if the Japanese units are included I would not be surprised if it’s judged plenty insecure.
Janne
“The X10 is a pretty popular model in Japan – really the first Android phone to sell in big numbers here – and Docomo has never updated it from 2.1. So if the Japanese units are included I would not be surprised if it’s judged plenty insecure.”
I agree. This market will likely never get 2.3.3 let alone 2.3.7 although they have reportedly tried to add some minor fixes (such as improving the dual touch) and rolled that into their existing 2.1 j-market build.
i dont care about security,
Does anybody here run any security/AV software on their phone and if so which is best/uses the least battery? I used to run Lookout but have nothing running at the moment!
any news on the CM for x10??
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just a question:
i have a t&t x10 with 2.1 android updated from 1.6, and i managed to unrooted(finally)…so the question is is there away to get the 2.3,cuz i don’t see t&t ever giving us the 2.3..
plz i hope anyone can answer me here.
thx
@Buzzled: i mean rooted…not unrooted,sorry
@Buzzled
have a look on the xda dev. website, they have guides and tutorials on things like that, hope this helps
I havent got higher expectation suprise that they are in 3th place not in the first one.
I have a question which x10 are they checking sony ericsson x10 or xda-ricsson !!
Curious who much vunerbility do I have left with Unlocked customised bootloader -unroot
Mix of CM7 and wolfbreak – all together that is a mix
having the apple products here together with showing how “insecure” these androids are, are indicative that bit9 is biased or even trying to promote/advertise the iOS
soetware update