Q: Is it safe to use an iPhone 3gs running iOS 6.1.6
I wanted to use an old iPhone for a short period but want to make sure that iOS 6.1.6 is secure these days, being August 2016. If not, I will be getting a 5c to use soon.
Posted on Aug 7, 2016 2:29 PM
If you are asking if a hacker could gain access to your data if they stole your iPhone, the answer is YES.
Apple, like every tech company, is in a race with hackers : they consistently release updates to make it so the current shipping version won't let someone in without the correct credentials (a passcode, for example). Not updating is like you got off the wagon and just sat on the road until hackers caught up with you.
If you are asking if a hacker could gain access to your data without physically accessing your iPhone, the answer is NO.
iOS is still iOS, it's a closed ecosystem (unless you jailbreak it). It won't let you install software which does not come from the App Store (if you are on iOS 6, most software from the App Store won't be compatible anyways ) so you can't install malware.
Posted on Aug 7, 2016 2:40 PM