Updating operating systems, applications and programmes is a hassle, no doubt. It takes time and you have to reboot your computer or entire network. If you are doing a Windows 10 OS update, it can seem like years and many have panicked when all they see is a blue screen ad infinitum. Also, you never know what will be updated and how long the process will take. Knowing that you can’t afford to have your PC out of commission for hours, you ‘select another time’; one that is convenient and when you feel less pressured by work.
Delay tactics and procrastination don’t work for system updates. You need to download updates ASAP. Not only will you benefit from any new features that an application may have, but you are also enhancing your IT infrastructure security. Updates, particularly those for operating systems, include patches to address security issues that developers have identified. By scheduling an update for another time, you are making your systems vulnerable to all sorts of threats.
Whether it’s for Windows, Adobe, antivirus programmes or your browser, updates are singularly important. It’s not simply about having access to new and cool features. It’s about keeping your data secure and optimising software. Operating system software is large and complex and also has to be compatible with your other applications. OS developers are continuously finding weaknesses due to the scale of the software. And knowing that, in the world of computers, nothing is 100% secure, problems must be fixed as and when they occur.
Some security patches are installed automatically in the background; you won’t even notice the update taking place. Others, however, require a manual installation. You need to install these as soon as you can. Delaying this seemingly pointless affair means that you run the risk of cybercriminal activity compromising your data and computer through vulnerabilities in the software.
Software vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous. Exploits, or attacks against software security holes, act as keys to unlock your software and let malicious code do its dreadful work. Criminals use exploits to help their threats infect systems such as Java and Adobe. You can see exploits as the starting point for many cyber attacks. Once the door has been opened, that’s when the problems begin: malware, ransomware, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), phishing, you name it.
Software vulnerabilities must not be taken lightly. Hackers can steal and encrypt your data, rendering it useless or inaccessible. Unlike other cybercrime threats, with exploits, you don’t need to do anything wrong. They sneak in and the damage is done. With the vulnerabilities discovered in Internet Explorer 2015, simply visiting an infected website was sufficient to infect your laptop with deadly malware.
So now you’re in a panic! Fear not. Security vulnerabilities and exploits are avoidable. Just remember to do the update on the day it comes out. The update may very well be released to protect you from a recently discovered malware or ransomware hack. When it comes to the security of your data, you can’t take any risks. So update now, it’s worth the hassle.
