When Should I Update My Operating System? – The Crypto Stone

Be sure to patch your OS as quickly as possible. All devices should be set to automatic updates or the user should install software patches immediately upon becoming available.

Perhaps the biggest security threat devices face is that as soon as a software patch is released, malicious actors will study the vulnerabilities that have been discovered and then attempt to exploit them on devices not using the update. Hackers will analyze the patches, design software to attack the newly discovered weaknesses and then proceed with unauthorized access of non-updated devices.

While it is true that this can happen, remember that the brightest minds in software security are working for Apple, Microsoft, etc. So the risk of of a bug occurring in a patch is less of an attack vector than running non-updated software with known vulnerabilities. The bottom line is that the end user is not going to be better equipped to assess the quality of the patch than the Silicone Valley experts who identified the original vulnerability and wrote the patch. If the experts who created and released the patch recommend updating, then the end user should update.

If the user chooses not to update, they are essentially welcoming a band of hackers to hijack their computer.

You should get a newer computer. This is of course not ideal as it costs resources but if you are running outdated software, you are extremely vulnerable to multiple attack vectors. The fact is that digital devices DO have a lifespan, and when support is no longer available, they should be replaced.

Well, I hope not but you’ll likely have a better day with up-to-date software than you will if your computer is commandeered by Cryptolocker. Now get out there and secure those devices! 🙂

Published at Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:13:07 +0000