There are many people around the world who are new to owning a device. Oftentimes people don’t understand the true dangers that they could be facing online, which puts them more at risk.
When it comes to keeping your devices secure and protected, software updates are critical. However, there are many people who often overlook the importance of software updates, and it can be tempting to click that “remind me later” button.
However, there are some good reasons as to why you should not delay your software updates. Read on to find out why and how you can make sure that your software is always kept up to date.
Ẅhat is Cybercrime?
Cybercrime has been around for many years, however, it has become much more frequent in recent years. This is due to a spike in the amount of people who now have devices of their own around the world as they have become more essential. Cybercrime has become more sophisticated and more vulnerable entry points exist
The covid-19 pandemic has also been a massive contributing factor to the sudden spike in cybercrime. The pandemic has forced many people to stay home and work remotely. In addition, people weren’t able to keep themselves entertained without a device during the lockdown.
These two elements of the covid-19 pandemic have caused many people to use their devices more frequently and spend more time online. The result is more opportunities for cybercriminals to take advantage of unsuspecting users.
The main method that cybercriminals use to launch their cyberattacks is phishing. Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails to potential victims urging them to interact with a link or attachment in the email.
One the victim interacts with the link or attachment in the email, malicious software can be installed on their devices. Malicious software is also known as malware, and as the name suggests, it is a software program that has been designed to do damage to your devices. Not just that, but spy on you and most importantly steal your data.
Malware can range from viruses to spyware and even ransomware. All of these are dangerous and you should aim to avoid all types of malware from making their way onto your device.
Phishing scams have become more difficult to detect in recent years as many cybercriminals are now using social engineering. Social engineering is when the hackers pose as a company or person that you know and trust.
By using the same logos and color schemes as a popular company, such as your bank for example, victims are more likely to interact with the phishing scam, resulting in the hackers being able to successfully install malware on the victim’s device.
What Are Software Updates Used For?
Software updates are regularly sent out by developers to fix any potential flaws in their software. Oftentimes we are too busy to install updates and we tend to click the “remind me later” button too many times.
The longer you delay a software update the more risks you are taking with your device. Software updates can also be used to add extra safety features on your device which will prevent cybercriminals from using new tactics to bypass your device’s security.
Many security flaws and loopholes are only discovered after the software has been sent out which can then be exploited in what is known as a zero-day. While developers do test the software before they send it out, a flaw can sometimes only show up once millions of people have been using the software.
This is why you can sometimes find software updates on a regular basis. It’s important not to ignore these as they might update some important features on your device or in your cybersecurity tools.
Cybercrime is also constantly evolving, with hackers developing new tactics and ways to get around your device’s security. Software updates will often add extra layers of security that help to keep your device safe against these new attacks.
How to Make Sure Your Device Remains up to Date
Oftentimes software updates come at the worst of times. They always seem to show up when we urgently need to use our device and we don’t have time to sit around and wait for the update to finish.
This is one of the reasons why many people choose to skip the latest software updates and continue with what they had to do on their device. However, skipping these updates could put your device at risk, so you’ll want to find a way to always get the latest updates at the most convenient times.
The best way to do this is to turn automatic updates on. You can usually choose a specific time when your device will look for updates. It’s best to choose a time when you know you won’t be needing your device, such as early in the morning for example. However, it varies from person to person, so choose the time based on how it suits your schedule.
It’s also a good idea to read through the short update briefs as they explain exactly what the new updates will give you. If there are urgent safety and security changes that are being implemented, it’s a good idea to prioritize the update over anything else you need to use your device for.
You can also keep up with the latest in tech news which will give you an idea of when updates will be released and what the updates will contain. Oftentimes, news will also warn you of any new strategies that cybercriminals use to launch their cyberattacks on unsuspecting victims.
If you’re worried about missing an update, you can also manually check for updates on your device whenever you would like to. This will ensure that you also get an idea of what the latest updates contain as you will be able to read through the update brief.
