Smartwatch Support Ending for Multiple Models, Posing Security Risks

Several major smartwatch manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, and Google, are set to end or significantly reduce software support for a range of their popular watch models in the coming months. This move, driven by internal timelines and chipset lifecycles rather than hardware failure, means older devices will no longer receive critical security updates, potentially exposing users to vulnerabilities.

Apple's upcoming watchOS 27 update is expected to render the Apple Watch Series 6 and newer models unsupported, likely around September. Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro will not receive Wear OS updates beyond 2024, though security patches are expected to continue for a limited period. Google's Pixel Watch 2 will lose its guaranteed software and security updates starting October 2024, a notably shorter window compared to its Pixel smartphone counterparts.

Judson Dressler, head of risk operations at cybersecurity firm Resilience, explained that smartwatches are typically given a predetermined support window. "Most of the time it stems from engineering costs associated with maintaining older models and incentivizing new purchases," Dressler said. While the core functionality of the watch may remain, the absence of security fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities is the primary concern.

The implications extend beyond the individual user. An unpatched, outdated smartwatch connected to a home or office network can serve as an entry point for hackers to compromise other connected devices. Experts advise users with devices nearing their end-of-support to refrain from using them for sensitive activities such as contactless payments or logging into accounts, and to be cautious about connecting them to Wi-Fi networks.