Running software updates is one of the most important everyday measures you can follow to help keep you safe and secure online.
Software updates are not a hassle
Try not to see the need for running a software update as a major inconvenience, and, most importantly, don’t put running updates off. Software updates are time critical and with a clocking constantly ticking in favour of the cybercriminals, an extra day of delay could mean the difference between safety and being hacked.
Why software updates are important
Software updates don’t just enhance and add new features, they patch newly discovered security weaknesses and add extra security capabilities as deemed necessary by the developers. Software updates also fix bug issues and improve performance for your devices.
Microsoft updates
For example, in Microsoft’s August 2023 patch they included 74 security fixes, including measures to address six critical and 67 important vulnerabilities across a range of issues with potential to risk security for users.
Microsoft are also enhancing MS Office and the memory Integrity System Readiness Scan Tool, which will add an important layer of digital defence.
What’s the risk of not running updates?
If you don’t run software updates, any security vulnerabilities present are not fixed, which opens up the potential for cybercriminals to infect your device with malicious software, called malware. If this happens you run the increased risk of your data being stolen and accounts compromised.
Bugs are a constant pest – help by running the updates
Bugs are difficult for developers to identify prior to updates being released. The updates help in identification and fixing of bugs. However, they aren’t fixed until the updates are installed on users’ devices. The constant pest of bugs is helped by the group effort of identification, reporting, provision of updates and user installation.
Improve device performance – by running updates
Because software updates improve features and fix bugs, they can often help your device/s run more smoothly and faster. If you don’t run your updates, your device can become noticeably slower and ‘laggy’.
How to check software is up to date
Checking to see if software is up to date is easy. Simply go to Settings and look for Updates, or Software Updates. There may even be a flag for your attention if updates are pending.
On Apple devices, software updates are in Settings, General then Software Update. Here it will tell you if your device is all up to date or not.
On Windows Devices, in Settings, you can find the Windows Update section - click Check for updates to see if you’re up to date.
On most devices there will be an option to switch ON Automatic Updates, which is highly recommended.
Cybersecurity software updates
Don’t forget too that the cybersecurity security you rely on will also be subject to updates, so it’s uber-important that these updates are also checked for and installed as soon as they become available.
Don’t leave software updates until it’s too late
It may seem like an unwelcome interruption, to stop working, or using your device, but software updates created for your safety and security are hugely to your benefit.
Users who stop what they’re doing on their device to enable any software updates to run in a timely fashion are less at risk of a security breach than those who don’t – it’s that simple.
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