With brand new smartphones costing upwards of $1000, it can become extremely tempting to buy a refurbished smartphone or even used smartphones given how much lesser they cost than the brand-new device. While you can get a used Samsung Galaxy smartphone or an iPhone for as little as half the price of a brand-new smartphone,…2022-10-12 11:43:57Things To Consider While Buying A Used Or Refurbished Android Phone!
cashify
60060
1230900

Things To Consider While Buying A Used Or Refurbished Android Phone!

Share:facebookinstagramwhatsapp
google-follow

With brand new smartphones costing upwards of $1000, it can become extremely tempting to buy a refurbished smartphone or even used smartphones given how much lesser they cost than the brand-new device. While you can get a used Samsung Galaxy smartphone or an iPhone for as little as half the price of a brand-new smartphone, is it really safe to use. Phones that are released years ago run on outdated versions of Android and that might mean that they don’t have critical security updates, here are a few things that you need.

 - 
Updated: 12th Oct 2022, 11:43 IST

When you are planning to make a purchase decision in getting a new Android smartphone, it might be very tempting to get a used or refurbished smartphone. Refurbished Android Phones cost as less as half the price of a brand-new smartphone, but these devices might come with an old version of Android and this might impose security constraints on the device making it riskier to use.

Also read: Buyback Offers

Most of the smartphones stop getting critical security updates after about 2 years that can help keep your data safe. If you are planning to buy a used or a refurbished Android phone then it is important to consider a few factors and risks before making the decision.

It is common for hackers to discover a new loophole and the phone manufacturers generally quickly send in security fixes patching the loopholes. Over a period of time smartphones get multiple security patches that help with the security of the phone and this is a continuous cycle of finding and fixing security issues in software.

Also read: Mobile Repair

Most of the manufacturers including Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and more support a phone for a specific period, and each new device that is released with a newer version of Android require a new set of threat assessment and patching. This is a lot of work to find and patch security loopholes for each smartphone and it becomes difficult for a brand to extend these security patches for more than a few years.

Also Read: Mi, Apple, Samsung Dominated The Second-hand Phone Market In 2019

If your phone doesn’t run on the latest security patch then it is vulnerable for a few attaches, there have been reports that suggest that a vulnerable smartphone could allow full access to everything on the smartphone including personal and professional data, banking information, and more.

Update - Things To Consider While Buying A Used Or Refurbished Android Phone

You could go to the Settings app and check for the Software Updates to see if there are any pending updates for your smartphone. If your smartphone says that it is running on the latest version, but the last update was several months ago then it might mean that your device is no longer supported.

Most users do not even realize when the safety of their device is compromised and Cybercriminals try to access the device as subtly as possible without triggering any alarms. Lookout for unknown but high data usage and sluggish performance which are both reasons that can also be attributed to older hardware as they degrade with time.

The best way to ensure your data safety is by not using a smartphone that is no longer supported for latest software updates, if you do not wish to upgrade just yet then there are a few things you can do that could help to an extent with your security.

Security Patch- Things To Consider While Buying A Used Or Refurbished Android Phone

  • Make sure that you have the latest software installed on your smartphone if you purchased a used or a refurbished smartphone then do a full factory reset and only install apps from the Google Play Store and avoid third-party sources.
  • Avoid banking apps or syncing company email and storing private pictures on your old phone, reports suggest that hackers might be able to manipulate a lot of data on the device and it is thus a good choice to keep as less data on it as possible
  • Make sure you have Google Play Protect enabled and set to scan all the installed apps to ensure that your device doesn’t get affected with malware

While it is always a good option to upgrade to a newer smartphone when the support cycle of a device dies down, sometimes it is not possible to upgrade due to financial or other constraints. In these cases, it is extremely important to take additional care of your smartphone to keep it in good running condition.

Also Read: 6 Best Android Security Apps To Keep Your Device Safe

 


Comments

Featured Videos

  • Best Reel Downloader Apps For Instagram 2023
    The best reel downloader apps let you download reels in a jiffy. Instagram is definitely one of the best platforms to share photos and videos. And with the addition of reels, the social media platform has become even more engaging and exciting. Reels, basically, are short videos with audio and effect. Their short length is…
    14th Mar 2023
  • Living A Life Of Chaos With iPhone 14 Pro
    Since we began using the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, we’ve encountered various issues and most of which are related to iOS 16. Several issues that we’ve faced are related to notifications, Always-on -display, battery life and wallpaper. Until these issues are officially fixed, we will have to live with them. We tried to tackle some of…
    31st Oct 2022
  • OnePlus 9RT Alternatives To Buy In India Under Rs 45,000
    The OnePlus 9RT, a T upgrade, was out the previous year, although it’s only available in price-sensitive areas like China and India. Moreover, the OnePlus 9RT has superior cameras, including a 50MP primary sensor, a little more prominent display, a premium design, good battery/charging and a more effective Snapdragon 888 CPU. Overall, this smartphone looks…
    28th Oct 2022
  • iPhone 14 Pro Vs iPhone 13 Pro Vs iPhone 12 Pro Camera Comparison
    We’ll discuss the overall camera setup & quality of the iPhone 14 Pro Vs iPhone 13 Pro Vs iPhone 12 Pro in the article. All of these phones come with a triple-camera setup. However, you might find some significant upgrades in the iPhone 14 Pro. Let’s find out the details about the camera quality of…
    7th Oct 2022
  • Moto Edge 30 Pro Vs iQOO 9T Comparison: Which One To Buy?
    The year 2022 is known as the year of the launch of many flagship smartphones. However, there is quite a decent competition between the phones in the price segment of Rs 50,000, and even there are too many options to choose from. Here in this article, we’ll compare the Moto Edge 30 Pro Vs IQOO…
    6th Oct 2022

Highlights of the Story

  • Refurbished and Used smartphones are generally available in the market for as less as half the price of a brand-new Samsung or Apple smartphone
  • Phones that are released over a year ago might be running on outdated versions of Android further increasing the security risk
  • If you plan to buy a refurbished or used smartphone then there are a few steps you can take to ensure that you have a better experience

    You May Also Read

    Vivo Mobile Phones With 4000mAh Battery Price List
    Vivo Mobile Phones With 4000mAh Battery Price List
    Vivo has launched some of the best handsets in 2022 with great specs and features. One such important feature for a smartphone user is the size of the battery of their smartphone. Some people change their smartphones only because they are looking for a phone with a larger battery. We have made a list of…