From: mariona@fact.com   
      
   AJL wrote:   
   >> Where I slightly disagree with what you said is that a lot of people   
   >> are unaware that the core modules are updated forever (as far as we   
   >> know). That means every single Android 10 and up phone (which is   
   >> billions) is updated every month forever (as far as we're aware) on   
   >> the Internet. So we're still getting security updates but only to   
   >> the core modules.   
   >   
   > So if you were me would you feel safe keeping your banking and   
   > investment apps on my OS update abandoned phone?   
      
   That's hard to answer "for you" but if you asked "me" what I would do with   
   my phone, I have no worries whatsoever on the update status of mine.   
      
   My phone is reasonably well protected from malware & attacks already.   
   So I "feel safe" (for a wide variety of prospective threats).   
      
   Remember, not only do you get monthly updates forever, but Google runs a   
   malware scan every day on your phone and upon every app installation.   
      
   >> Of course, the apps are still getting security updates if set to   
   >> auto.   
   >   
   > Of course most all of my individual Android apps (Google, Kindle,   
   > Facebook, and banking, etc.) are still getting their individual updates.   
   >   
   > I've never heard of an Android banking or investment app being broken   
   > into because the OS was out of date so perhaps I'm being overly   
   > paranoid. On the other hand I don't really NEED to use those sensitive   
   > apps on my phone when I'm out and since there's (safer?) up to date   
   > devices to use at home that seems a better choice to me...   
   >   
   > Speaking of paranoia all my "safe" devices were make in China, Korea,   
   > Japan, etc. I've often wondered in the back of my mind if there were any   
   > OS back doors...  8-O   
      
   Nobody whispers in my ear anymore (my TSI/SCI security clearance has long   
   ago expired) but I assume there are plenty of inadvertent back doors.   
      
   >> As far as I know, any "modern" phone can handle 4G and many handle   
   >> 5G. All major US carriers offer both 4G and 5G service around the   
   >> USA.   
   >   
   > Probably depends on the area. My metro area (5th largest USA city) has   
   > good 4G coverage everywhere I've needed it. But then again I can travel   
   > for just an hour up into the mountains and lose the signal...   
      
   Yup. Here we have FCC (calculated) coverage maps which are a bit optimistic   
   (as they're based on data supplied by the carriers) but they're useful.   
      
   >> If the OP needs to know the signal strength, plenty of wi-fi   
   >> debugging apps will show him his signal strength for his carrier (in   
   >> dBm units). IMHO, the OP should look for decibels above -120 (i.e.,   
   >> minus 100 is OK).   
   >   
   > Hopefully micky will check back with his results...   
      
   He did respond, but I don't understand a word he said. Do you?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)