"Many Android phone brands offer vital security updates for only two years after the launch of a phone, although customers may end up using the phone for up to six years, putting them at risk of being hacked.

Despite handsets appearing to work as normal, users could be putting themselves at risk of data theft or having their phones infected with ransomware and a range of other malware attacks.

Handsets from brands like Apple, Samsung and Huawei were found to be capable of lasting six years or more before they needed replacing due to faults or issues with performance. However, while Apple provides software support for five or six years, some Android brands only offer these vital updates for two or three years."