Computer Repair in Kalamazoo

That pop-up message telling you to update yet again. You have to make a choice: update now or later. It’s tempting to just keep hitting “remind me later,” but that turns into “never” too easily. Keeping your software up-to-date is an important consideration. It’s one of the most important things you can do to keep your computer safe. It affects usability, security and compatibility with other software.

The most critical software to update regularly is your computer’s operating system. Your operating system is very large and complex. With so many different components involved in modern operating systems, weaknesses are always being discovered. It’s just a reality of computing that software will never be 100% secure and will need continuous updates to fix issues as they are discovered.

Any software involved in surfing the Internet should also be updated as soon as possible. Web browsers, email clients, plugins like Flash, Java or Silverlight (if installed) should all be maintained since these are the first pieces of software to get exploited by a virus or other Internet threat. Commonly abused programs like Adobe Acrobat Reader and Microsoft Office should also be kept up-to-date because threats often come disguised as email attachments in these formats.

It’s also a good idea to pay attention to whether or not your software is still receiving security updates. Computer operating systems are only supported by their developers for so long. By continuing to use software that is outside of this lifecycle, you risk being exposed to threats that were never discovered or fixed while it was being supported. Old versions of Windows like Windows XP and Vista are still out there but receiving no more security updates to the operating system and won’t run the latest operating systems or plugins as third-party companies drop support for these outdated computers.

Devices like phones and tablets also have limited update lifecycles and most people don’t consider how quickly they become outdated and vulnerable. For instance, version 8.0 of Android, Oreo, has recently been released, but 21% of Android devices are running 5.0 or older. Smart devices and appliances like TVs, IP cameras, smart-home hubs, thermostats, light bulbs, etc. may never receive security updates if they aren’t developed by a major manufacturer.

We are here to answer your questions and to assist you with your computer issues. If you have a question about a patch or update, don’t hesitate to call us! Better safe than sorry! For more information on some specific threats and how to update certain devices, check out the PDF of last month’s Newsletter: GENewsletterOctober2017

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Geek Easy Computers – Making Technology Easier.

Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek! Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog. He currently lives in Michigan with his Manchester Terrier, Chico.