Software updates usually come at the worst time. Your device always seems to want to download and install an update when you have important work to do or when you need it the most.
This causes many people to click the “Remind me later” button and move on with what they need to use their devices for. However, software updates are much more important than you may think
Software updates add new layers of security to your software. In our modern society, we need to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals who are constantly trying to infiltrate our devices. Read on to find out why software updates are so crucial and how you can make it easier to get the latest updates installed on your device.
Why Are Software Updates Important?
Software updates are regularly sent out by developers to ensure that their systems are constantly refreshed. Updates can include several different new features, from simple bug fixes to big new additions in how the system operates.
Whether it’s your device’s operating system or your cybersecurity software, you must ensure that it is always kept up to date. You can do this by simply clicking on the “check for the latest update” button.
Cybercriminals are always developing their strategies and forming new tactics to try and infiltrate people’s devices. From developing new malicious software that can be downloaded and installed on your device to using social engineering in their phishing scams.
If your software, whether it’s the operating system or your cybersecurity tools is not up to date you are at risk of a cyberattack. Cybercriminals can find ways past your defences, especially if you are still running an older version of your software.
Cybercriminals will always be looking for a way to get into your device. This is why developers work tirelessly to ensure that they have software updates at the ready to protect their customers’ devices.
One recent example of the importance of software updates is when a cybercriminal was able to install spyware on iPhones across the world without needing access to them. Apple quickly released an urgent iOS update for all iPhones that helped to protect the devices against the newly developed malware.
How Often Are Software Updates Sent Out?
In the majority of cases, you will find that software updates are sent out on a monthly basis. These can be either small or large updates, however, most of the time the updates serve to fix bugs and smaller issues in the software.
Developers will normally send out a major update once a year, depending on what needs to be updated. In some cases, a secondary major update might be sent out to fix flaws that have been detected in the previous update.
Despite the software updates being tested by developers before being sent out for users, there could still be some flaws in the updates. This is because many flaws and bugs will only be spotted by users once they have started using the updates.
How to Make Sure You Never Miss a Software Update
Keeping your software up to date can sometimes feel like a chore. Software updates can take longer to download and install on your device, and in the majority of cases, an update will try to install when you need to use your device.
This can sometimes make it difficult for people to update their devices. Many tend to believe that software updates can be a waste of time because they are simply adding new features to your system.
However, this is not always the case. Many updates serve to add important security features to your device that you should not overlook. This is why it’s important that you always read the updated description to see whether an update is truly important or not.
The best way to ensure that your software is always up to date is by using the automatic updates feature. Enabling this will allow your device to constantly check for new updates and as soon as one becomes available it will be downloaded and installed.
It’s also a good idea to set the updates to install on your device when you are not using it. For example, if you use your device from 8 a.m until 6 p.m, it’s a good idea to change your settings to download and install updates during the evening or early mornings. This will prevent situations where you need to use your device but there is an urgent update ready to be installed.
Another way to ensure that you don’t miss updates is by keeping up with the latest news. You can often find out about important updates by reading the latest news in the tech sections. Doing so will also help you to keep up with the latest trends in cybercrime which is beneficial to keeping your devices secure.