If you are currently in possession of an older Android phone, it might be time for an upgrade as Android Police has reported that Android Users with phones running versions of Android prior to 7.1.1 Nougat will be cut off from a huge section of the internet starting in 2021.

This is because the cross-signing agreement between the Certificate authority, Let’s Encrypt and fellow certificate authority IdenTrust will expire on the 1st of September, 2021 and there are currently no plans for renewal. The Mozilla-partnered non-profit, Let’s Encrypt, plans to stop default cross-signing for IdenTrust ‘s root certificate, DST Root X3 as they plan to switch over to solely using their own ISRG Root X1 root come January 11th of 2021.

This transition is set to be a very significant shift because as much as one-third of all web domains rely on the organization’s certificate and since older software will not trust Let’s Encrypt’s root certificate, this could “introduce some compatibility woes’’ as put by Let’s Encrypt lead developer Jacob Hoffman-Andrews.

Jacob went further to explain that ‘’Some software that hasn’t been updated since 2016 (approximately when our root was accepted to many root programs) still doesn’t trust our root certificate, ISRG Root X1, most notably this includes versions of Android prior to 7.1.1 that means those older versions of Android will no longer trust certificates issued by Let’s Encrypt.’’

Recent data from Google’s Android development Suite revealed that roughly 34% of Android devices still run a version older than 7.1, what this means is that millions of users worldwide will potentially be cut off from a large portion of the secure worldwide web come 2021 so this may be a good time to start searching for a new android phone to purchase ahead of 2021.

The only workaround that might prove useful for users of older versions of Android phones would be to install Firefox since the browser is depending on its own certificate store which includes Let’s Encrypt’s root but using this as a quick fix will still not be an absolute solution because that will still not keep applications from breaking neither will it ensure that other web activities that need to be carried out outside and beyond the Firefox browser will function so the best fix is to take advantage of holiday promos currently taking place and get a new and current android device to avoid any inconveniences that may arise from Let’s Encrypt transition.

Source: Tech Sight Now

one way to make old users buy new device

My kit kat scanner don suffer ����

Well, brands wants to sell so I won't blame them. New, better and more affordable devices are coming out.

For those that support Custom ROMs, they'll have to root and go this route

What a strategy to drive sales

Wahala for who dey use KitKat like me They should have listed the parts to become inaccessible na.

Who cares....team jellybean n proud!

Many won't see this now

Tecno and itel users will suffer thix most, no updates no patches, third class citizens using useless plastics.

Eerujeeje:
Tecno and itel users will suffer thix most, no updates no patches, third class citizens using useless plastics.

TECNO receive monthly patches.

Omo, wahala for who no get new phone o

Eerujeeje:
Tecno and itel users will suffer thix most, no updates no patches, third class citizens using useless plastics.

what are you even saying, TECNO phones receive updates