Cybersecurity Awareness Month: The Truth About Software Updates

Importance of Software Updates

Those pesky updates. They’re annoying but so critical to do!

While, at times, they may seem inconvenient, these updates ensure that your devices and apps remain protected from the latest threats.

An Apple Example
In 2019, Apple introduced a group FaceTime feature. Shortly after its release, a 14-year-old initiated a group call and discovered a major security flaw: they could eavesdrop on a call recipient without the recipient ever answering. According to Apple, the “initiator of a FaceTime call may be able to cause the recipient to answer.” In response to this issue, Apple released a software update or “patch” to correct the problem. As a result, Apple users that did not have automatic updates enabled or did not manually update, were vulnerable to this threat for some time. This highlights the importance of installing updates promptly to mitigate such security risks.

Update ASAP
For many of us, clicking “remind me later” has become a reflex action; however, delaying updates can leave you vulnerable to cyber threats unbeknownst to you. It is important to take advantage of automatic updates, as much as possible, for mobile software, applications, and your computer’s operating system.

Where to Find Updates
For mobile devices like smartphones or tablets, you can typically find system updates in your device’s ‘Settings under ‘Software Update (Android) or ‘General’> ‘Software Update (iPhone). For individual apps, visit your app store and check for updates there. On computers, system updates can usually be found in your operating system’s ‘Settings’, and programs can often be updated directly within the program itself. Additionally, you can check your system’s notifications for any messages related to updating.

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