Keeping up to date
16 Mar 2019
It seems like a computer update comes along almost daily, but do we need them? And can they be more hassle than they’re worth?
A computer update can be nerve-wracking for a number of reasons. It might change the functionality you were used to. You might find that it affects how your computer interacts with older programs or software. And, in extreme cases, it can slow down your computer or affect its operations.
But there are very good reasons why we should keep our computer’s operating system, and the various programs and software that we use, up to date.
Latest update, latest security
This main reason you want to keep things up to date is that the latest version of software will have the most recent, and therefore most effective, security to keep hackers at bay.
There have been global outbreaks of viruses that could have been easily prevented with up-to-date security and saved people a lot of headaches.
No sooner have software companies plugged a security breach than hackers start working away to break back in again. It is a game of cat and mouse that means you really want the latest online locks on your digital information.
You could pass on viruses or malware to others
If you do end up with a security breach or malware – hidden software designed to damage or gain access to your computer – you could infect your friends’ computers via email networks or sharing flash drives.
New features might help you
Software updates might change things you are used to, but they also offer new features that you could find really useful. As soon as you have downloaded an app or some software, a team of developers is beavering away in the background trying to improve on it, so it makes sense to have the latest version of what you have purchased.
How do I find updates?
You will generally receive a prompt from your phone, computer or software alerting you that an update is available. These often seem to come at very inconvenient times – when you’re writing an email or trying to upload a photo from your latest Probus outing!
But don’t ignore it, for all of the reasons above.
But what if you’re not getting prompts? It might be that your automatic updates feature has
been turned off. You can do this yourself, or sometimes, if you have already got some malware on your computer, it can affect the automatic updates. Look in your settings and make sure that you’re being prompted when an update lands.
How to avoid problems
There’s no way around it – updates are a hassle. They can take a while to install, they disrupt what you’re doing, and they do cause problems on some occasions. But to make things easier, make sure you close everything and do the updates at night when you go to bed. This allows it to tick away while you’re not using the computer.
Google the update to see if there are any known problems. The answers might be a bit techy for you, but you’ll get an idea if there are any issues with this particular update.
On balance, updating your computer will provide less issue than leaving your personal data open to hackers, so you just have to grit your teeth and press UPDATE.
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