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Are any apps still available for old versions of Android?

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Gallopinhairpin

Member
Hi, I have an old Asus Memopad running Android 4.2.2. As this is now an usupported version, security-wise, I wanted to install Avast free anti-virus but it reports the current version is not compatible with the device. Is it possible to find a version that is?

I was also hoping to install Firefox and DuckDuckGo but I'm guessing I'm going to run into the same issues. Has anyone any thoughts on this?
 
Thanks for the quick reply. I see that apkmirror is itself an app used as an alternative to Google Play. I'm always interested in alternatives to data-harvesting outfits like Google. I haven't decided yet if it's worthwhile trying to resurrect this old tablet but will probably have a play in a spare moment during lockdown.

Thanks again.
 
What's this then . . . . . . ?

Apkmirror.jpg
 
I must admit I thought some of the replies indicated a modicum of doubt :). When I accessed the APKMirror website it seemed that it was necessary to install that app in order to download and install apps from their store so I assumed it was an equivalent to Google Play Store. If it is indeed possible to do this without using their app that would be even better.
 
You don't have to use the APKMirror app to install apps, all the content is available as apk files that you can manually side-load.

But it's very important to keep in mind that simply because you can run older versions of various apps that still will not make any interactions you do with online services safe to do. You're still using out-dated, unsupported software so a) some online services just won't work anyway and b) you're intentionally creating security and privacy vulnerabilities for yourself for the services that do.
 
Gallopinhairpin said:
I must admit I thought some of the replies indicated a modicum of doubt :).
Click to expand...
It's okay. I just know the guys better than you do, and knew they weren't doubting you. :)

A problem that's existed since the Internet's inception is that you can't always tell a person's tone from their words. Emojis can help, but not everyone uses them.
If it is indeed possible to do this without using their app that would be even better.
Click to expand...
Yes, definitely possible--that's how most of us have been doing it! :D
 
svim said:
You're still using out-dated, unsupported software so a) some online services just won't work anyway and b) you're intentionally creating security and privacy vulnerabilities for yourself for the services that do.
Click to expand...

That is exactly my concern and I was hoping that even though I'd be using an old version of Avast it would still provide some protection by virtue of using up-to-date virus definitions. I wouldn't be using the pad for anything involving sensitive information.

However on reflection I think it would be best to forget the idea.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion.
 
While you can only download the most recent version of app from Google Play, there are other app repositories that hold onto older versions as well. Among such websites are XeeApk.com and F-Droid. There are many other to choose from, but you should take care when downloading apps from unknown websites.
 
Aye, and as I've never heard of XeeApk I would personally be wary of using them.

F-Droid are different: they only provide open source apps. Some of those apps are also available via the Play Store, some are not, and of course most apps in the Play Store are closed source and so not available through F-Droid.
 
Gallopinhairpin said:
That is exactly my concern and I was hoping that even though I'd be using an old version of Avast it would still provide some protection by virtue of using up-to-date virus definitions. ...
Click to expand...

Using an out-of-date version of an app will also be a matter where in most cases the developers no longer support it. In the case of dated AV apps, that means there are no current virus definitions. That's why they all discourage users from using unsupported versions, or they post a disclaimer about reduced protective measures.
Not a fan of antivirus apps for Android anyway but whatever.
https://lifehacker.com/double-check-that-your-android-antivirus-app-actually-w-1833414047
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/android-av-apps-bogus,news-29621.html
 
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