When an i-Device is excluded from a new OS, does it still get security patches?

[iMore Question]

For example, iPhone 4 does not get iOS 9. What about security patches? Does Apple give security patches to iPhone 4, or no patches whatsoever?

I am asking this, that there are more and more security threats now, and if an OS no longer gets security patches, it is effectively dead. See Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, for examples. If Apple gives no longer provides security updates for iPhone 4, then all iPhone 4s in the world become obsolete.

 

[HankAZ]

For example, iPhone 4 does not get iOS 9. What about security patches? Does Apple give security patches to iPhone 4, or no patches whatsoever?

I am asking this, that there are more and more security threats now, and if an OS no longer gets security patches, it is effectively dead. See Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, for examples. If Apple gives no longer provides security updates for iPhone 4, then all iPhone 4s in the world become obsolete.

Once Apple stop supporting a device because of it's age, the iOS version for that device is not updated again. No patches, no updates, nada. For example, the original iPad tops out at iOS 5.1.1. That device will never get another update. Period.