Your biggest cyber security risk could be an outdated device
Your biggest cyber security risk could be an outdated device
https://www.russh.com/ai-cyber-security-risk/
Publish Date: 2026-06-23 03:25:00
Source Domain: www.russh.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
The greatest threat to your digital security probably isn’t what you thought it was. According to a new warning from some of the world’s leading cybersecurity agencies, your biggest risk could actually be the device you’re reading this article from.
This June, intelligence and cybersecurity agencies from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand – collectively known as Five Eyes – have issued a rare joint statement to warn the public. Five Eyes has called out that artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the cyber threat landscape, increasing the risks to individual, business and governments. The message was simple: organisations and individuals need to act faster to protect themselves.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Five Eyes warning about?
While much of the conversation around AI has centred on its potential to transform the way we work and communicate, cybersecurity experts warn the technology is also rapidly reshaping the cyber threat landscape. According to the statement, the next generation of AI systems could fundamentally change both cyber attacks and cyber defences within months, not years.
The statement warns: “AI is not a future consideration – it is already here.”
One concern is that, as AI becomes more powerful, it is accelerating the speed, scale and sophistication of cyber threats. The technology can help cybercriminals automate attacks, identify software vulnerabilities and create increasingly convincing phishing scams, reducing the time between a security flaw being discovered and exploited.
Why your old phone or computer could be putting you at risk
One of the clearest warnings from the Five Eyes agencies concerns legacy technology and systems —i.e., laptops, tablet and phones running on outdated or unsupported software.
A statement published on the Australian Cyber Security Centre said, “unsupported systems are easy targets. They are not just technical debt, they are strategic liabilities.”
For example, if you own an Apple phone, the oldest device that still has access to the latest software (iOS26) is the iPhone 11. If you have an Apple phone older than this, you could be missing out on the latest and most up to date protections from cyber threats. It’s a similar story for those with Samsung phones, where the latest software can only be accessed with S22 and S21 models and up. While Apple does still roll out urgent security patches for phone up to the iPhone 6, this is not the same as having access to the latest and safest software.
Laptops and often have more longevity than phones. Many larger computing devices can receiving new softwares and security updates for eight to ten years. But many people keep their computers – particularly the home desktop – for longer than this.
While an old smartphone or laptop may seem harmless, unsupported devices are often among the easiest targets for cybercriminals because they no longer receive critical security updates. You could inadvertently have an unsecured device in your own home, connected to your wifi network. And as AI advances, these devices become even more exposed. In other words, the cyber risks associated with an outdated phone in 2026 are not the same as they were even a year ago.
AI is both the problem and the solution
Fortunately, the warning isn’t entirely doom and gloom. While the Five Eyes agencies acknowledge that AI is making cyber attacks more sophisticated, they also believe it offers some of the most powerful tools available to defend against them.
According to the statement, organisations that incorporate AI into their security operations can identify vulnerabilities earlier, improve software quality, and respond to incidents more quickly. This means that the same technology helping cybercriminals move faster can also help security teams stay one step ahead.
What can you do? Check that your phone and laptop are still supported
The best thing you can do right now is check that the devices you’re using are still receiving essential software and security updates. You can ask Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola or whoever makes your phone directly. These businesses have customer service teams that can help you and give you more accurate information than what you will find on Google or in an AI search.
The agencies stress that traditional cyber hygiene remains essential. That means regularly updating devices, installing software patches, enabling multi-factor authentication and replacing hardware that no longer receives security support.
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