How critical are security patches?

[anon(10645356)]

I'm thinking of going back to my Moto G4 for a period. It was my only phone until June, when I got a Nokia on Android One, OS 9.

Can't remember whether the Moto got monthly patches, but I think they were at least a year out of date when I was using it. (I looked at it recently. Don't have it right now.)

I keep it in sync with my Nokia and the apps updated.

Patches were never a thing for many years.

What's vulnerable?

 

[Mooncatt]

As long as you only install apps from the Play store and are otherwise safe in your net usage, I wouldn't be very concerned. You almost have to be trying to get infected.

 

[B. Diddy]

Although the risk is still fairly small, there are Bluetooth and wi-fi vulnerabilities that have been discovered over the years and subsequently patched, like this one: https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/12/16294904/bluetooth-hack-exploit-android-linux-blueborne.

 

[anon(10645356)]

Keeping up to date with hacking vulnerabilities then. Without being blase`, I'm okay with that for my situation.
I'll use the Moto for work. Many thanks.