Software updates: why they matter and how to stay on top of them
Updates are annoying, but they close the security gaps attackers use. How to keep computers, phones and websites up to date without stress.
Photo: Herry Sucahya / Unsplash
"Update available" usually appears at the worst moment. It is tempting to click "Later", again and again. But updates are one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your devices and data.
What updates actually do
- Close security gaps: Attackers look for known weaknesses. An update closes them before they are used.
- Fix errors: Crashes, freezes and slowness are often fixed in an update.
- Keep things compatible: New versions of apps and websites expect a current system.
Why waiting is risky
As soon as an update is published, the weakness it fixes becomes public knowledge too. From then on, devices without the update are an easy target. Many successful attacks use gaps that were fixed weeks or months before.
What needs updates
- Computers: Windows or macOS, and the programs on them
- Phones and tablets, including their apps
- Browsers and their extensions
- Routers, Wi-Fi access points and printers
- Websites, e.g. WordPress, its plugins and themes
How to stay on top of them without stress
- Switch on automatic updates wherever possible, for the system, apps and the browser.
- Pick a fixed time: e.g. restart computers every Friday afternoon so updates can finish.
- Back up first: before big updates, make sure there is a current backup.
- Replace old devices: when a device no longer receives updates, it is time for a new one.
In a business
With several computers and a website, keeping track becomes work. We can take care of it: updates of your computers as part of IT Support, of your website with Website Maintenance, and an overview of where you stand with an IT Security Check.
