It seems like every app these days asks for permission to update automatically. Some people opt-in every time and others let their suspicions hold them back.
Are automatic updates safe for your computer and information security? This guide will give you both sides of the coin so you can make the best decision according to your own computing habits.
The Good and Bad of Automatic Updates
We’ll start with the good things about automatic updates. Software updates are important for several reasons: they help to fix software flaws that cause glitches, they update your software with the newest features, but most importantly, they patch up security flaws that hackers love to exploit.
There are only two ways for hackers and malicious programs to gain access to your information. The first is by accidentally installing it yourself, usually by downloading “free” games with viruses planted deep inside. The other way is when hackers learn how to exploit a security flaw in a piece of software you already own keeping your software regularly updated is the only way to protect against this cause of infection.
Automatic updates help ensure that your computer stays safe by keeping all of those security holes patched. As soon as the software developer realizes there is a security flaw, they’ll release the patch that fixes it. In many cases, the developers issue an update long before hackers have a chance to exploit the holes. Auto updates give you a way to care for your computer without having to check for updates constantly.
On the other hand, automatic updates can have a few downsides. They take up extra computer resources and sometimes the program improvements can change features that you previously enjoyed.
We suggest enabling automatic updates on the name brand software you use every day, and any programs that handle your personal or financial information. Automatic updates are especially important for programs that you’ll be using for many years, like word processors.
However, if you feel that a piece of software isn’t worth updating regularly, you might as well uninstall it. This is because hackers watch old and cheaply-made software much more than they watch new software, and once the software developers stop releasing updates to the old software then the hackers will exploit all those waiting flaws.
Are automatic updates right for you? It’s great for programs that you know you can trust but it’s bad for the programs you’re just trying out. In other words, automatic updates are critically important for things like drivers, web browsers, and multimedia platforms like Flash. We do not suggest it for simple games that you’re likely to uninstall after playing. Allow automatic updates carefully but never underestimate their importance!
Are automatic updates safe for your computer and information security? This guide will give you both sides of the coin so you can make the best decision according to your own computing habits.
The Good and Bad of Automatic Updates
We’ll start with the good things about automatic updates. Software updates are important for several reasons: they help to fix software flaws that cause glitches, they update your software with the newest features, but most importantly, they patch up security flaws that hackers love to exploit.
There are only two ways for hackers and malicious programs to gain access to your information. The first is by accidentally installing it yourself, usually by downloading “free” games with viruses planted deep inside. The other way is when hackers learn how to exploit a security flaw in a piece of software you already own keeping your software regularly updated is the only way to protect against this cause of infection.
Automatic updates help ensure that your computer stays safe by keeping all of those security holes patched. As soon as the software developer realizes there is a security flaw, they’ll release the patch that fixes it. In many cases, the developers issue an update long before hackers have a chance to exploit the holes. Auto updates give you a way to care for your computer without having to check for updates constantly.
On the other hand, automatic updates can have a few downsides. They take up extra computer resources and sometimes the program improvements can change features that you previously enjoyed.
We suggest enabling automatic updates on the name brand software you use every day, and any programs that handle your personal or financial information. Automatic updates are especially important for programs that you’ll be using for many years, like word processors.
However, if you feel that a piece of software isn’t worth updating regularly, you might as well uninstall it. This is because hackers watch old and cheaply-made software much more than they watch new software, and once the software developers stop releasing updates to the old software then the hackers will exploit all those waiting flaws.
Are automatic updates right for you? It’s great for programs that you know you can trust but it’s bad for the programs you’re just trying out. In other words, automatic updates are critically important for things like drivers, web browsers, and multimedia platforms like Flash. We do not suggest it for simple games that you’re likely to uninstall after playing. Allow automatic updates carefully but never underestimate their importance!
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