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Short answer: you cannot make an unsupported gadget fully secure with a setting, an antivirus app or an accessory. Once security updates stop, newly discovered vulnerabilities remain unpatched and the device may lack newer security protections. You can, however, reduce the likelihood of compromise and limit the damage if something goes wrong while you arrange replacement or retirement.
The safest long-term choice is to stop using the obsolete product. The temporary controls below are for situations where migration cannot happen immediately, not a permanent substitute for vendor support.
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What “no longer receives updates” really means
A device is unsupported when its manufacturer no longer provides security fixes for the relevant software or firmware. It may continue to turn on, run apps and perform its original task, but that apparent functionality is not evidence of current security.
New flaws can be discovered after the final update. An attacker may also exploit weaknesses in an old operating system, browser, firmware component or management app that newer products mitigate. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warns that there is no risk-free way to keep using obsolete products and says the only fully effective mitigation is to stop using them. See the NCSC’s obsolete-products guidance.
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Support is not one single switch. A phone can have a current app but an unsupported operating system; a router can receive occasional feature updates while no longer receiving security fixes; and a smart-home hub may be supported while an attached sensor is not. Check each layer separately:
- the exact hardware model and regional variant;
- the operating-system version;
- the firmware in the device and in connected accessories;
- the browser, document reader and other applications; and
- the app used to administer the gadget.
Use the manufacturer’s support page for the exact model. Record the published end-of-support date, the date of the last security update and any stated final version. If the maker does not state a date, treat that uncertainty as a reason to investigate further rather than as proof that support continues.
Also distinguish security support from other kinds of service. A company may continue selling subscriptions, cloud storage or replacement parts after security fixes have ended. A device can therefore remain commercially active while its vulnerability protections are frozen. Check notices for words such as “security maintenance,” “firmware support” and “end of life,” not only “software update.”
Decide whether to keep, isolate or replace it
Make the decision by considering exposure, access and consequences, not just the gadget’s age. The following framework turns those questions into an action.
| Option | When it may fit | Controls and remaining concern |
|---|---|---|
| Continue briefly with controls | Replacement is delayed, the device can be constrained, and its job is low sensitivity. | Install every legitimate update still available, remove unnecessary network paths, keep it away from sensitive accounts and review the decision regularly. Unpatched flaws remain. |
| Isolate or use offline | The core task does not require internet or local-network access, such as viewing already-owned media or running a standalone instrument. | Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or wired networking when practical, or place the device on a separate network. Isolation reduces remote attack paths but does not make malicious files, removable media or local attacks harmless. |
| Replace or retire | The device is an internet-facing router, handles sensitive information, reaches cameras or home controls, or could affect other people or physical safety. | Choose a replacement with a clearly stated security-support period and migrate data and settings carefully. This is the strongest general response to unsupported exposure. |
Ask five questions before deciding:
- Is the operating system and firmware still receiving security updates?
- Must the gadget connect to the internet or process untrusted content?
- Can it reach passwords, financial accounts, work files, cameras, microphones or door and heating controls?
- Could compromise spread to other devices or create a physical-safety problem?
- Is offline use or a supported replacement practical?
A device that scores high on exposure, sensitive access or consequence belongs in the replace-or-retire category even if it still appears reliable.
Consider the people who depend on the device, too. A rarely used e-reader presents a different problem from a router shared by a household, a camera monitoring a child or a thermostat controlling heating for someone vulnerable. Convenience, sentimental value and replacement difficulty may explain a delay, but they do not reduce the technical exposure.
A safe-use plan for an unsupported gadget
1. Identify exactly what has reached end of support
Write down the manufacturer, model number, hardware revision, operating-system version, firmware version and the apps used to control it. Check the maker’s support documentation for each item, including connected accessories. Save a copy of the final security bulletin or support notice so you know which version was last covered.
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Check whether the maker has separate policies for hardware, firmware and cloud services. A companion app may stop working before the device itself reaches its stated date, while a cloud shutdown may make a perfectly patched gadget unusable. Record those dependencies before deciding that offline operation is possible.
2. Install every remaining legitimate update
Before treating the gadget as obsolete, install any update that the manufacturer still offers. Turn on automatic updates where available, then check manually for pending operating-system, firmware, browser and application updates. Restart when requested and verify the version afterward.
Automatic updating can fail because of insufficient storage, low battery, loss of power, unavailable Wi-Fi, restrictive settings or a restart that was never completed. A device showing an “update available” notice is not necessarily protected; confirm that installation finished successfully.
Back up photographs, documents, contacts, authentication data and configuration information before a major update or migration. Keep at least one backup that is not permanently connected to the old device.
Use only the manufacturer’s update mechanism or a clearly documented official package. Do not install a random “security patch,” modified firmware or unofficial app offered by an unknown site; the supposed fix may add malware or remove safeguards. If an update fails repeatedly, note the error, free storage, connect reliable power and consult the maker’s instructions rather than repeatedly retrying an unverified download.
3. Remove network exposure the device does not need
If the gadget works without connectivity, switch off its Wi-Fi, cellular data, Bluetooth and wired network connection as appropriate. Disconnect devices that are no longer used rather than leaving them powered and reachable.
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For a device that must remain online, disable remote administration, cloud features and listening services that are not required for its core task. In a home router that supports it, place the old gadget on a separate guest or isolated network so it cannot freely reach computers, storage, cameras or smart-home controllers. Confirm that the isolation setting still permits only the function you need.
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Do not expose an obsolete device directly to the public internet. Avoid opening inbound ports or using remote-access features merely for convenience. These steps reduce the routes an attacker can use; they do not patch the underlying flaw.
Check the isolation after changing it. Some guest networks still permit access to local devices, and some smart-home products need specific local ports or cloud connections. Test the required function, then verify from the router’s client list that the gadget is not appearing on the main network with broader access than intended.
4. Reduce what a compromise could reach
Stop using the unsupported gadget for banking, primary email, password management, work systems, health records or other sensitive accounts whenever you have an alternative. Sign in to important services from a supported device instead.
Keep the old gadget separate from computers and storage that contain valuable information. Do not give it administrative credentials for your home network or other devices. If it must access a service, use the least-privileged account and remove access when the task is finished.
Remember that network separation is a damage-control measure, not a guarantee. A malicious document, removable drive or person with local access can still create risk even when the gadget is offline.
Review saved credentials, browser sessions, tokens and paired devices. Sign out of services the gadget no longer needs and revoke its sessions from the provider’s account page. Do not copy a password vault or an administrator recovery code onto the obsolete device simply to make migration easier.
5. Harden accounts and the surrounding network
Replace factory-set or reused passwords with long, unique passwords. Enable two-step verification wherever the service offers it, preferably on a supported phone or security key rather than on the obsolete device itself.
For the home router, change the default administrator credentials, enable modern Wi-Fi encryption and check regularly for firmware updates. The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer checklist covers these settings in Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home. These controls protect accounts and the network around the gadget, but they cannot compensate for a vulnerability inside unsupported firmware.
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Do not reuse the old gadget’s password for email, shopping or the router. If you suspect that an unsupported device has exposed a password, change it from a supported device and enable two-step verification. Account protection limits what an attacker can do even when the device itself cannot be repaired.
6. Monitor it and set an exit date
Write down what the gadget is allowed to do, which network it uses and the date you will review the decision. Reassess sooner if a security advisory affects the model, the device begins behaving unexpectedly or its role expands.
Warning signs include unexplained reboots, new accounts or settings, unknown applications, unusual network traffic, disabled security features, overheating or a smart device acting on its own. Disconnect it from networks if you suspect compromise. For smart-home products, follow the manufacturer’s reset and recovery instructions. A factory reset may remove existing malware or personal data, but it does not repair the vulnerability that made the compromise possible.
Keep a short record of the review: current firmware, permitted connections, sensitive services blocked and the planned replacement date. That makes it harder for a temporary exception to become invisible household infrastructure.
Guidance by device type
Phones, tablets and computers
These devices combine an operating system, browser, document readers, applications, drivers and security software. All of them matter. A current browser on an unsupported operating system does not make the whole computer supported, and an antivirus product cannot supply missing operating-system or firmware patches.
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- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
If you must keep using one briefly, avoid web browsing, email attachments and downloads on it. Move sensitive accounts to a supported device, remove unnecessary applications, disable automatic connection to unknown Wi-Fi networks and keep it off the internet when performing offline tasks. Do not open files from untrusted sources simply because the device is isolated; local content can still exploit a vulnerable reader or application.
Use a supported device for password resets, account recovery and installing software. If the old computer must display files, copy only the specific files needed and scan them on a supported system first; scanning is a precaution, not a guarantee.
Routers and network equipment
A router is a high-priority replacement because every connected device depends on it. Check its exact model and hardware revision for a current firmware policy. Apply all available updates, change the default administrator password, enable encryption and turn off remote administration unless you genuinely need it.
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Before swapping routers, record the connection type and any required login details, but do not leave a copy of those credentials on the obsolete router. After installation, update the Wi-Fi password, reconnect only devices you recognise and check that remote administration is disabled unless required.
Smart-home products
Smart cameras, speakers, plugs, thermostats and hubs often remain connected continuously and may expose microphones, video, location data or physical controls. Change default passwords, use unique credentials and enable two-step verification if the product offers it. Disable away-from-home control and other remote access when you do not need them.
Check the manufacturer’s stated support period before installing or transferring ownership. UK consumers should note that, since 29 April 2024, UK smart devices have been subject to basic product-security requirements that include stating an end-of-support date. That legal point is specific to the UK and should not be generalized to other countries. The NCSC’s consumer guidance, Smart devices: using them safely in your home, describes the support date as a “use by” date so owners can judge how long a product is intended to remain safe to use.
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Keep cameras and microphones powered down when they are not needed, and remove old household members or installers from the device account. For locks, alarms, heating and other safety-related equipment, favor replacement over indefinite isolation because a failure or compromise can have consequences beyond lost data.
Gadgets you no longer use
Disconnect unused devices from power and networks. Before selling, donating or handing one to another person, back up what you need and perform a factory reset using the model-specific manufacturer instructions. A reset is necessary to remove personal accounts and stored data, but it does not turn an unsupported product into a secure one; tell the recipient that its support has ended.
Remove memory cards, SIM cards and removable storage, and check that the reset actually completed. If the device cannot be reset reliably, do not pass it on with accounts, saved credentials or personal files still present; retire it through an appropriate electronics-recycling route.
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Set a concrete migration plan rather than allowing temporary precautions to become indefinite. List the data and functions that must move, identify a supported replacement, test the replacement before disconnecting the old device and revoke the old device’s account sessions afterward.
For a phone or computer, export contacts and files, move authentication methods, check that backups restore correctly and sign out of the old system. For a router, document the internet connection details and Wi-Fi settings, then change network passwords after the new router is installed. For smart-home equipment, record scenes and automations, follow the maker’s transfer procedure and remove the old product from the household account.
If no replacement is available, narrow the gadget’s role to the least sensitive offline task it can perform. Revisit that decision as vulnerabilities and threats change; “it still works” is not a support policy.
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Tell other users in the household what the limitations are. A carefully isolated device can be put at risk again if someone reconnects it for a quick download, enables remote access or signs into a sensitive account without understanding the trade-off.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming antivirus replaces updates: security software can detect some threats, but it cannot repair an unsupported kernel, browser engine or firmware component.
- Confusing an app update with device support: the management app may be current while the device it controls remains exposed.
- Leaving an unused gadget online: powered-on equipment can still be discovered and attacked even when nobody is actively using it.
- Trusting a factory reset as a security fix: it removes data and may clear malware, but the underlying weakness remains.
- Buying a new accessory as a cure: a new router or security product does not patch an old phone, computer or smart-home device.
- Ignoring failed automatic updates: an update notification is not proof that installation succeeded.
The bottom line on old gadgets
Unsupported gadgets are not instantly unusable, but their security risk accumulates because newly discovered weaknesses will not be fixed. Verify support for every component, install all remaining updates, remove unnecessary connectivity, isolate the device, protect accounts and limit access to sensitive systems. Use those measures only as a bridge. For an internet-facing router, a device holding sensitive data or anything that could affect other people or physical safety, replacement or retirement is the responsible endpoint.
“This guidance does not provide a risk-free way of continuing to use obsolete products, but will help to reduce the risks of doing so.”
— National Cyber Security Centre, Device security guidance: Obsolete products, accessed 13 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a phone that no longer gets updates?
It is not risk-free. If you must keep it briefly, install its final legitimate updates, avoid banking and other sensitive accounts, keep browsing and downloads to a minimum, disable unnecessary connections and plan replacement. A current app or antivirus tool cannot make an unsupported operating system fully secure.
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An unsupported router is a high-priority replacement because it sits between every home device and the internet. Until you replace it, install the final firmware, change administrator credentials, use modern Wi-Fi encryption, disable remote administration and check connected devices. Confirm the new router’s support policy before buying.
Does a factory reset make an old gadget safe?
A reset removes personal accounts and may clear existing malware, which is useful before sale or transfer. It does not repair the vulnerability that caused the risk, so a reset is not a substitute for security support or replacement.
Will antivirus protect an unsupported computer?
Antivirus can provide an additional detection layer, but it cannot supply missing operating-system, browser or firmware patches. Treat it as one limited control while reducing exposure, not as proof that the computer is supported.
Should I keep an obsolete gadget offline?
Offline use is preferable when the gadget’s task does not require connectivity. Turn off Wi-Fi, cellular data, Bluetooth and wired networking as appropriate. Offline operation reduces remote attack paths, but malicious files, removable media and local access can still be dangerous.
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Find the exact model and hardware revision, then check the manufacturer’s support page for firmware coverage, cloud-service status and an end-of-support date. UK smart-device rules have required an end-of-support date to be stated since 29 April 2024; that requirement should not be assumed in other countries.
What should I do if an old gadget may be compromised?
Disconnect it from networks, avoid signing in to sensitive services on it and use the manufacturer’s recovery or reset instructions. Change any exposed passwords from a supported device and revoke account sessions. A reset may remove malware, but retire the gadget if its vulnerability remains.
What should I do before selling or donating an unsupported device?
Back up needed data, remove SIM and memory cards, sign out of accounts and perform the model-specific factory reset. Tell the recipient that security support has ended. If you cannot reliably erase the device, retire it through an appropriate electronics-recycling route.
The Bottom Line
Use an unsupported gadget only as a constrained, temporary exception: verify its exact support status, apply every remaining update, remove unnecessary connectivity, isolate it from sensitive systems and set a firm replacement date. No setting, antivirus product or accessory removes the underlying unpatched risk.
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Quick Recap
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