Security on Tablets that don't receive Security Updates
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Say a tablet computer doesn't receive security updates. Is there a way to safely use it, short of permanently disconnecting it from the Internet?
On a desktop (or laptop) computer, you could replace the operating system with Lunix and get security updates that way. But my understanding is: That's usually not an option on a tablet.
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@Eggcorn Actually, on an Android tablet, you can usually root it and install OS's that were released years and years beyond its manufacturer EOS date. These more modern OS's will receive security updates. It's the same thing you are doing with putting Linus on "obsolete" hardware. (I have an Android tablet which stopped updating at Android 4. Private android developers have OS's for it all the way up to at least Android 8.)
That said, being connected to the internet is not automatically a security risk. Your most valuable security asset is between your ears. The vast majority of security "victims" fell victim because of places they went and things they did on the web - not because someone someone got bored and figured out how to penetrate their device.
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@Eggcorn Of course if you mean a Windows Surface tablet, you can install Linux on that as well.
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@Ayespy said in Security on Tablets that don't receive Security Updates:
[O]n an Android tablet, you can usually root it and install OS's that were released years and years beyond its manufacturer EOS date.
As I understand it, that's only for certain tablets. Someone has to make an Android for that specific model of tablet. Hence why on the LineageOS homepage: When you click "Get LineageOS" it takes you to a page listing supported tablets rather than a page to just download the operating system. Am I correct?
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@Eggcorn It's safest to know if the OS has been tested on the tablet.
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@Eggcorn said in Security on Tablets that don't receive Security Updates:
Is there a way to safely use it, short of permanently disconnecting it from the Internet?
There are some things you can do to make yourself less vulnerable in addition to using your common sense.
- Google cleaned out 1 million malware programs last year. So, install as few programs as possible. Be careful who you get them from and what their business model is.
- Prefer paid programs to free ones which support themselves with ads.
- Use a secure DNS service that also filters known malware sites like cloudflare 1.1.1.2 or Quad 9. 9.9.9.9 there are others.
- You can add a free antivirus. Bitdefender will check your apps and tests well.
- If you have reasonable tech savvy, get NextDNS. Essentially it is Pi-hole in the sky and will block lots of ads and questionable sites.