Technologies

Is It Really Safe to Buy an Old or Used Phone? Here’s What You Need to Know

It might not be safe to use an older or used phone. Here’s how you can be sure and how to protect yourself.

The best phones you can buy right now all come with top specs, a plethora of features and pro-level camera systems. But these flagship handsets, like the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, also demand a lot of cash if you want to slide them into your pocket. It’s no surprise that many of us look toward more affordable options instead of opting for the latest model. You can save a bundle by looking toward used or older devices. After all, older hardware is usually fully capable of handling what you need it to, and it’s more environmentally friendly to keep using phones for longer, rather than sending them to landfill.

But while these old smartphones might be cheaper, they may not be safe to use, especially if you bought a used phone that’s more than a few years old. The problem is that older phones might run outdated versions of Android or iOS, which means they often don’t have critical security updates that can keep you and your data safe.

If you’re concerned about security and privacy — and you should be — here are some things to consider.

Read more: Make Your Phone Last for Years With These Easy Tips

What is a security patch for a phone OS?

Hackers are constantly looking for cracks and holes in your phone’s software to exploit. Whenever hackers discover a new hole, phone-makers usually get it fixed, and that fix is sent out to your phone to make sure that nobody can take advantage of it. That’s a security patch. You’ll likely have received plenty of them over time as cybercriminals are always trying to find new ways to circumvent the security on your phone.

It’s a continual game of cat and mouse, with hackers finding holes and software providers patching them up. And on the cycle goes. Most of the time, you’ll never know about it, but it’s the thing that’s keeping your phone up to date and protected against known threats.

Why do manufacturers stop sending out security patches?

All manufacturers including Samsung, Sony, Google and OnePlus only provide support to a phone for so long. Each new handset that’s released and each new version of Android requires new threat assessment and patching. That’s a lot of work, and it means that finding and patching those holes for every single handset spanning years and years just becomes unfeasible.

As a result, Google and the phone-makers eventually have to cut off support for older handsets. Those handsets then will no longer receive security updates, meaning that when a threat is detected on that phone, it simply won’t be fixed.

So is using an out-of-date phone safe?

As Christoph Hebeisen, director of the security intelligence company Lookout, explained, «We do not consider it safe to run a device that does not receive security patches. Critical security vulnerabilities become public knowledge every few weeks, or months, and once a system is out of support, then users who continue to run it become susceptible to exploitation of known vulnerabilities.»

According to Hebeisen, a vulnerable phone could allow full access to everything that’s on your phone, including your personal and company emails, contact information, your banking details or audio of your phone calls. A hacker could continue to have access to this information for as long as you continue using the compromised handset.

How do I know if my phone is too old?

Finding out if your phone is still supported and receiving security patches often isn’t straightforward. To start, go into Settings and check your software updates. Install the latest version that’s available. Usually it’ll give you some indication of when the phone was last updated. If your phone says it has the latest OS software, but that latest version was installed many months or even years ago, it’s bad news. Your phone is probably no longer supported.

Sadly, manufacturers don’t give you a warning that tells you when they’ve dropped support for a phone, so you either find out through a rude awakening like I mentioned above, or figure it out yourself through some other means.

Previously it was common that phones may only be supported for a few years, but thankfully most companies — including Google and Samsung — have upped their game, offering support for at least seven years on their recent generations of phone. Google’s latest Pixel 9 and 9 Pro will still be safe to use into 2031, while Apple’s iPhone XR, released six years ago, is still compatible with the latest version of iOS. Companies such as Fairphone take that even further, promising at least eight years of support, while even budget phones like the Nothing CMF Phone 2 Pro come with six years of support.

But longer support periods have been something of a recent trend so if you’re buying an older-generation phone on the used market, it’s possible its support period may be shorter, and may even be out of support already.

Finding out if your Android phone is supported will involve some digging. Samsung sent me its list after I contacted its PR team, and it’s available online here, and while it makes it clear which phones are currently supported with updates, it doesn’t say for how long those updates will continue. Google has a page that clearly tells you when your Pixel or Nexus phone will lose security support. (Spoiler alert: All Nexus and Pixel phones up to and including 2021’s Pixel 5A are all out of their official support periods.)

Your best place to start is with the support pages on your phone manufacturer’s website. You might not notice immediately if your phone is out of date. The most obvious sign you’re on old software might be when you look for new apps to download. Many apps will simply be incompatible due to the software and hardware limitations on your phone and you won’t be able to install them.

How can I tell if my phone has been hacked?

Whether you’d ever notice if your phone’s security was compromised is difficult to say. Cybercriminals don’t exactly make it known they’ve accessed your device, so you’ll need to look for signs. Popups that might appear on the phone are a big giveaway, as are any apps that suddenly appear that you didn’t download.

Also watch out for unexplained high data usage, as it could be that malicious apps are using a lot of data in the background. Other indicators can also include unusually high battery usage and sluggish performance, but both of these can also be attributed to using older hardware that degrades over time.

Read more: Best Android VPNs

How can I keep myself safe if I have an old phone?

As Hebeisen says, the best way to keep yourself safe is simply to not use a phone that’s no longer supported. If you’re short on money, can’t afford to upgrade just yet or you’re using an older phone temporarily for whatever reason, there are a couple of things you can do that could help.

First, you should make sure the phone has the latest software installed. If you bought it used, make sure to fully factory-reset the phone. Ensure that you only download apps from the Google Play Store (rather than from third-party or unofficial app stores) and certainly avoid installing apps by downloading the APK file from a website. This can often be a way that malicious software weasels its way into a phone.

You can help protect your personal information by simply not giving too much away in the first place. Don’t do any banking on the phone, don’t sync your company email accounts and don’t send sexy pictures or have sexy video chats until you’re back on a protected device. (Even over a phone, it’s important to practice safe sex.)

According to Hebeisen, if you don’t take such precautions, «this might enable an attacker to observe and manipulate almost everything happening on the device.» That’s a cold shower, right there.

Technologies

Level Up Your Pokemon Legends: Z-A Adventure With These Active Free Gifts

Get ready for a new adventure. These free mystery gift codes and rewards are available for you to grab today.

After 12 years, it’s finally time for Pokemon players to head back to the Kalos region in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the newest game in the popular monster-catching franchise. If you’ve missed the worldwide capital of Mega Pokemon, fairy-type Pokemon and a whole bunch of baked bread, now’s the time to jump back into the world of pocket monsters.

The Switch 2’s first Pokemon game seems a bit scarier this time around. Though the beautiful Lumiose City projects safety and security, recent unexplained rampages from wild Mega Pokemon threaten the peace.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Between unearthing the cause of this phenomenon and taking down competitors in the Z-A Royale Pokemon battle ladder, there’s a lot of work to do in the Kalos region. You’ll need special partners to get the job done — and there are some special Mystery Gifts that have just the powerful pals you’re looking for.

There are already multiple Mystery Gift codes you can use right now in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, unlocking rare Pokemon and tons of items to help you get started on a new Pokemon journey.

All active Mystery Gifts for Pokemon Legends: Z-A

While some Pokemon Legends: Z-A promo codes are uniquely tied to Nintendo purchases, we’ve gathered every free code and redemption requirement in one place for you here.

Below is a chart that contains every active Mystery Gift code for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, what it unlocks and its expiration date:

Active Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mystery Gifts

Reward	Code or alternative redemption requirements	Expiration date
Ralts holding Gardevoirite	No associated code. Select «Get via internet» in the Mystery Gift menu.	Feb. 28, 2026
100x Poke Balls	Every code is unique. You can unlock the code for this Mystery Gift by purchasing the digital version of Pokemon Legends: Z-A. The code will be sent to the email associated with your Nintendo account.	March 10, 2026
3x Fast Balls, 3x Lure Balls, 3x Heavy Balls, 3x Level Balls	Every code is unique. You can unlock the code for this Mystery Gift by purchasing the Mega Dimension DLC. The code will be sent to the email associated with your Nintendo account.	March 10, 2026

How to redeem Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

If you have Mystery Gift codes to redeem in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, you’re likely eager to grab those rewards as soon as possible. But you need to do a little bit of legwork before unlocking the code redemption menu.

To unlock Mystery Gift functionality, you need to progress through the main story until you reach the third main mission, called A New Life in Lumiose City.

During this mission, you’ll meet Mable, the acting director of the Pokemon Research Lab in Kalos. Once you unlock Mable’s research, a new «Link Play» tab becomes accessible in the pause menu.

Within the Link Play tab, you can redeem Mystery Gift codes — as long as you’re connected to the internet.

What are Mystery Gifts?

Mystery Gifts are a long-running way to reward Pokemon players with extra goodies. The official gift distributions have existed since Pokemon Gold and Silver was released in 1999.

Back then, players needed to have special hardware — like a Game Boy Advance Wireless Adaptor — in order to acquire Mystery Gifts. Newer games make the process much easier, since you need only connect to Wi-Fi in order to access gifts for the Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch.

While some Mystery Gifts are accessible for free, others are unlocked by promo codes that you’ll have to hunt down through specific means. Mystery Gifts are good ways to gather precious items, add mythical Pokemon to the Pokedex and capture rare shiny Pokemon.

Technologies

Will Tim Cook Step Down? Apple CEO’s Impending 65th Birthday Sparks Succession Talk

Apple is likely in the process of choosing someone to fill the chief executive role once Tim Cook decides to retire. Here are a few potential candidates that reports say are being considered.

Tim Cook‘s 65th birthday is next week, on Nov. 1. And with the Apple CEO’s special day almost here, talks have been growing as to who could be his successor should he choose to retire. Cook has made no official public mention of stepping down yet, but according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant is working behind the scenes to ensure a seamless transition when the time comes.

Cook replaced Steve Jobs in 2011, and after a period of uncertainty, Cook ushered Apple into its most profitable era. Stock-watching website Stocktwits reports that the company’s stock has increased by around 1,800% since Cook took over leading the company.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Jobs may have introduced devices like the iPhone into everyday use that changed how we interact with technology, but Cook expanded on the Apple experience. Under his guidance, the company built upon Apple’s smartphone by introducing subscription services and more mobile products, including earbuds and wearables.

He introduced Apple Pay, Beats headphones became part of the company’s ecosystem, the Apple Watch launched 10 years ago, and Apple even entered the entertainment business, producing original Oscar-winning movies and Emmy-winning TV shows through Apple TV Plus.

Read more: Best iPhone in 2025: Here’s Which Apple Phone You Should Buy

We should reiterate that the notion of Cook stepping down is pure speculation at this point. We don’t know what Apple’s CEO is currently planning or what his thoughts about retirement may be. That said, there are a handful of contenders who have reportedly been part of the succession conversation.

Potential Apple CEO contenders

Apple likely has «a solid bench of successors» that the company’s board has been developing, says Bryan Ma, VP of Devices Research at IDC.

«But the anxiety gets amplified when there isn’t clear visibility for such a valuable and iconic company,» Ma says. «Compounding the challenge is the fact that the bar has been set by big rock stars like Steve Jobs and Tim Cook. The next generation of leaders have very big shoes to fill.»

John Ternus, Apple’s current vice president of Hardware Engineering, was top of Gurman’s list. Ternus has been with the tech giant for more than two decades, so he has the knowledge and experience for a chief executive upgrade. There would be value in having an engineer behind the wheel.

Ternus appeared during the September Apple event to introduce the iPhone Air. At 50, he’s the same age Cook was when he took over as Apple CEO.

Other potential contenders are also being considered, including Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering; Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing; and Jeff Williams, the company’s former chief operating officer, according to a report by Apple Insider. On Oct. 10, Bloomberg reported that Federighi also will soon be overseeing the Apple Watch operating system watchOS, while Ternus will be overseeing Apple Watch hardware engineering once Williams departs at the end of the year.

Federighi has been with Apple for a long time and has the public speaking experience — frequently speaking during Apple Events — that would be vital if he replaced Cook as CEO. Considering his current role, Joswiak has a more marketing perspective and a broader overview of the company and may not be as hands-on with the tech as Ternus and Federighi. And according to Gurman, Williams was viewed as a shoo-in to be Cook’s replacement until his role as COO was announced to be ending. (He’s now Apple’s senior vice president of design, watch and health.) Cook held the position of chief operating officer before he replaced Jobs as CEO in 2011. Sabih Khan will be stepping into that COO role, which also puts his name in the running.

When Cook steps down, Apple will undoubtedly have a pool of qualified talent to choose from to take up the leadership mantle. Who exactly will take the mantle remains to be seen.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Technologies

Meta Will Close Down Its Messenger Apps on Mac and Windows

You’ve got two more months until the apps are gone.

Meta is discontinuing its desktop Messenger apps for Windows and Mac. Starting Dec. 15, you’ll need to head to Facebook to continue chatting through the app on your computer.

Once the sundowning process begins, you’ll receive an in-app notification. You’ll have a 60-day window to continue using Messenger before the app is permanently shut down. (But don’t worry — the mobile app for Messenger will remain.)

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

If you want to save your chat history, Meta suggests activating secure storage before the app is gone forever. Otherwise, your chat history will be gone forever, as well.

The Messenger desktop app is no longer available on the Apple App Store. After Dec. 15, Meta users who try to access Messenger on desktop will be redirected to Facebook.com. Users without a Facebook account will be redirected to Messenger.com.