November 10, 2020
The Importance of Software Updates
Contents
Volume 14, Issue 11
November 2020
Click here for a PDF version of this month's issue.
The Importance of Software Updates
Cyber attacks are always on the rise. What some people do not realize, though, is that cybercriminals are constantly looking for vulnerabilities and weaknesses on your devices. Cybercriminals plan an attempt to infiltrate your devices when there are weaknesses within software. The devices that could be affected include your phone, computer, tablet, security camera system, baby monitor, as well as several other devices that you have in your home.
If your device’s software has a security vulnerability, a cybercriminal may be able to break into the device in several different ways from anywhere around the world. They may be able to inject your device with a virus, steal data off your device, encrypt your data or take control over your device. If your device does become infected, it is often passed on to your friends, family or business associates and can infect their systems as well. Software updates can protect your devices and keep hackers out.
When a software provider discovers a vulnerability, a “patch” is developed and released. A patch is a small program that will install itself and fixes the vulnerability. Sometimes you may have to update programs or applications that reside on your devices, and these often go overlooked, such as your web browser, messaging app, word processor, etc.
Whenever you download a new application or program, you should check to see if its security is regularly being updated. The longer security updates go without being installed, the more time cybercriminals have to create a plan to exploit your devices.
You will often see little pop-up windows that say, “Windows Updates Available,” “iOS update is available for download,” or a general “Security Update Available.” These are times when you should update the software on your devices. Security updates may happen automatically or may require you to manually install them, but it is important to stay aware of what software is outdated and update as soon as possible.
Two Ways to Update
Automatic updates are one of the ways you can ensure security patches are installed on the software, applications or programs on your device. An automatic update happens whenever an update has been released by the vendor – it automatically downloads and installs the update without any user interaction. The advantage of automatic updates is that you do not have to go seek out updates for your systems. The disadvantage of automatic updates is if the updated program results in a functional problem. Although this is rare, it can still occur.
Ever catch yourself repeatedly clicking on “Update Later” for days, weeks or even months on end? Manual updates are another way you may receive updates, but these require you to manually download and install the update on your own. The advantage here is that you can decide what device gets which security update and when, however, it may take you much longer to realize that an update is available or plan time to update your devices. These software update alerts often pop-up at inconvenient times, but the longer you wait, the longer you leave your devices at risk of exploitation.
In addition to keeping up with the regular updates of your existing operating systems and software, making sure you have the most recent version of software is also important. You may be thinking that your Quickbooks 2013 works fine so there’s no need to upgrade to the latest release, but the newer versions also have the most recent security enhancements. So while it may not be necessary to buy the latest software version every year, it’s important not to fall too many versions out of date.
For individuals, families and small business it is recommended to enable and use automatic updates. Up-to-date software provides security to your devices, thus making it difficult to break in. Updating your systems is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your data from cybercrime.