IN an ideal world smartphones would last forever but sadly even the mighty iPhone has an end date.

After a few years, Apple stops providing older devices with critical updates.

Old devices are a security risk

1

Old devices are a security riskCredit: PA:Press Association

These are not only needed to keep your iPhone running smoothly but to keep your data safe.

If you’re using an old version of iOS that’s no longer being serviced, hackers could have worked out ways to get into it – and a fix won’t arrive like they do in more recent versions of iOS.

Security experts Kaspersky urge users to consider replacing their phone once it’s unsupported by the operating system.

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“Outdated phones are teeming with unpatched exploits that hackers intentionally seek out and abuse,” the firm says.

“Getting a newer, supported phone will help you keep yourself protected from a data breach.”

For this reason, it’s also important to keep your operating system up-to-date if your device is still supported.

“Security patches included in these updates are critical to your phone’s security,” Kaspersky continues.

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“This simple process can stop entire families of malware from winning the battle of your data wars.”

The good news is, Apple tends to support iPhones for many years after it was released.

Which iPhones are no longer supported?

Since the release of iOS 16, the following iPhone models are no longer supported.

  • iPhone
  • iPhone 3G
  • iPhone 3GS
  • iPhone 4
  • iPhone 4S
  • iPhone 5
  • iPhone 5C
  • iPhone 5S
  • iPhone 6
  • iPhone 6 Plus
  • iPhone 6S
  • iPhone 6S Plus
  • iPhone SE
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
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If your iPhone is still supported but not using the latest version of iOS it’s best to update it now.

It’s free, so well worth the effort for your device’s security.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk

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