If you use your phone for things like banking or shopping, you may want to check this12:03, 01 Jun 2026Anyone who stores their personal data on their smartphone should carry out an important check to find out just how secure their device really is. When a manufacturer such as Apple, Samsung, or Nokia withdraws support for your phone model, your data becomes increasingly vulnerable.‌This occurs far more frequently than most people realise. In fact, 20% of people who upgraded their handset last year did so purely because their old device stopped receiving these vital software rollouts, according to consumer champion Which?.‌Thankfully, you can check where your phone stands using this free tool from Which? takes less than a minute. Simply enter your specific model to find out where you stand, and the tool will provide the best estimate of when support may — or already has — come to an end for your handset.‌For example, users with an iPhone 12 (or 12 Pro) should expect security support to stop in October 2026. Compare this to users with the latest generation of iPhones (17/17e/17 Pro/17 Pro Max/Air), who are expected to keep receiving updates until 2032.People hanging onto older devices could have been without the most up-to-date protections since 2022, according to the tracker. The tool supports most major phone brands, including Alcatel, Google, Huawei, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and more, reports the Express.‌What to do if your phone is no longer supportedWhich? claims that people don't need to ditch their devices and upgrade right away if this tool claims there is no new security support - but it should be a consideration.A spokesperson said: "Without those regular updates, your operating system is defenceless against new threats. Cybercriminals are always on the prowl for flaws in older software, so if a brand stops providing patches, those flaws won’t be fixed."Month by month, the gap between the threats out there and your phone's ability to fight them off grows wider. Keep using an unsupported phone for more sensitive daily tasks – like mobile banking, online shopping, and checking your work emails - and it could become a problem."‌A quick check you can do on all your devicesWhile some manufacturers may provide occasional updates beyond their stated end-of-support date, most phones won't let users know when they receive their final update. However, checking a specific section of your phone's settings menu will reveal its current security status in real time, according to consumer group Which?.For iPhone users, navigate to Settings, select General, then tap 'Software Update'. Which? say that Apple "regularly backports vital security patches to older operating systems" like iOS 15 and 16, just check that you've been receiving routine security fixes over the past six months.Article continues belowFor Android devices - whether it's a Samsung, Google, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, Sony, Realme or Nokia - the process is usually the same. Go to Settings, tap the search bar at the top of the menu, and type in 'Security update' to display your phone's most recent security patch date.