Google Android Jelly Bean overtakes Gingerbread as most used smartphone and tablet OS

Google's Jelly Bean Android version has finally overtaken the near two-year-old Gingerbread to become the most common variant. However, ongoing fragmentation is still leaving users open to attack, according to the security community.
The latest statistics from the Android Developer Forum show that Android Jelly Bean is now running on 37.9 percent of all Google smartphones and tablets, with 32.3 percent running on Android 4.1 and 5.6 percent on the latest 4.2 update. This beats the older Gingerbread version, which is pegged as having a 34.1 percent share of the ecosystem.
The number is a marked improvement on the figures shown in the last quarter, when Gingerbread was believed to run on 44.2 percent of all Android devices, dwarfing Jelly Bean's 16.5 percent share. Between the two, Android Ice Cream Sandwich's share also shrunk from 28.6 percent to 23.3 percent.
Despite the positive news security experts remain concerned about the ongoing fragmentation in the ecosystem. Trend Micro's Rik Ferguson told V3 even with the figures the slow uptake of new Android updates is causing a massive headache for security firms trying to secure the ecosystem.
"The ongoing and historical fragmentation in the Android user base has unfortunately become a fact of life and that means vulnerabilities or lack of security features for a large percentage of users, vulnerabilities that will likely never be fixed," he told V3.
"The major problem is the lack of a centralised means of providing critical security fixes for all versions of operating systems and this is something that should be resolved with all speed.
"Right now the responsibility for distributing updates lies primarily with handset manufacturers and carriers, and their major motivation is often more in persuading you to buy a newer handset than in prolonging the life of your older one."
The news is doubly disturbing as it follows reports that an Android 'Master Key' that is potentially exploitable by hackers has been discovered. Security firm Bluebox reported uncovering the key earlier this week, claiming it affects all versions of Android and is leaving 99 percent of Google smartphone and tablet users vulnerable to attack and requires an emergency patch fix.
Kaspersky's David Emm told V3 the fragmentation will make fixing the 'Master Key' even more difficult.
"Regarding the existence of a ‘Master Key' for Android, it is positive that the leak has been reported to Google, but there is a strong possibility that devices running older Android versions will remain vulnerable," he said.
"As always, the key for users is to keep updating their software to protect against the latest threats."