Q1 2023 Information Security Newsletter
Posted by matthew.brehm15
Change can be scary. It can mean extra work dealing with all of the new features and alterations. However, change can also mean fixing old mistakes, addressing problems that were identified, and lessons learned can be brought back into the fold. For these reasons, keeping your software up to date is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from viruses and hackers.
Computers, and the software that runs on them, are extremely complex systems. Every day, bugs and security vulnerabilities are identified in software, and thousands of engineers work to update the software to fix the issues.
Hackers are well aware of the security vulnerabilities and bugs that are discovered. These bugs are used to attack and break-in to computer systems. It is very rare for a hacker to develop a never before seen attack when large data breaches happen. In nearly every single instance a well known issue is exploited in a long outdated piece of software.
To address this, the best course of action is to ensure we are keeping our software up to date and upgraded. When a new version comes out, don’t wait too long to upgrade it.
Try setting aside one day a month to update all of your software on all your computer devices. Does your router have an update? Do you have a smart toaster that needs an update? Keep a list of the devices that need maintenance, and add regular updates to your chore list.
If you keep all of your devices and software updated, then you have taken a huge step to keep yourself safe, protect your data, and avoid having to deal with the fallout of possible cyber attacks.