{"id":32,"date":"2019-04-08T20:29:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T20:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/?p=32"},"modified":"2025-12-13T20:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T20:30:00","slug":"software-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/?p=32","title":{"rendered":"Software Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever wondered why we must update our software and operating systems? Are you sick of the popups on your phone or computer asking you to do so? Software updates contain new features and important fixes for bugs and vulnerabilities. In this post I\u2019ll cover some of the reasons for updating software, why it needs to be done so frequently, and the negative consequences that can come from ignoring those pesky updates.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Software and operating systems are written by developers. They use code<\/a> to provide functionality. However, they often don\u2019t have enough time to focus on security. The initial code could be prone to security breaches. Most of that isn\u2019t intentional on the developer\u2019s part, but it\u2019s rather a fact of the program being new and the vulnerabilities not yet being known. Hackers will always find a way to break the code, even after patches are released. Hence the continual updates. When a developer writes code and publishes it, hackers read the code line by line and find bugs and vulnerabilities. They can then create exploits to hack programs and operating systems to steal information and wreak havoc on devices. Software updates are used to patch these vulnerabilities and keep the code safe.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hacker in a hoodie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Frequency is affected by the global reach hackers have and by the pressure developers face to push code into production before it\u2019s ready. Products, like shoes, must be perfected before being sold to a customer. But code is unique in that regard. Organizations know that code can be updated; this causes management to force developers into publishing new code quickly. The result is new software with bugs that need immediate updating. Security professionals then scour the code and submit vulnerabilities to the organizations developing products in an effort to keep the software secure from hackers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Young woman using smartphone and looking at her watch in the rush hour. She is waiting for a cab ordered via mobile app. Traffic blurred at background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What happens if you ignore the software updates? Well, if you don\u2019t perform software updates, your devices could be vulnerable to many exploits and attacks. This means the risk of someone hacking into your device and causing harm is higher. Hackers can get into your system to steal information or use your machines in a botnet<\/a> to cause harm to others and assist in criminal activities online.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Phishing – a credit card with a fish hook trying to steal personal data on a computer keyboard \/ financial data theft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Software updates are essential in keeping your system and application safe. We run into a lot of people who don\u2019t care about technology and don\u2019t see a reason to update or learn about their devices. Once we explain how that can lead to their devices aiding criminals, they usually change their mind. Technology is going to continue to evolve. As such, you\u2019ll find an abundance of informa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered why we must update our software and operating systems? Are you sick of the popups on your phone or computer asking you to do so? Software updates contain new features and important fixes for bugs and vulnerabilities. In this post I\u2019ll cover some of the reasons […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cybersecurity"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/37"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thecyberstaff.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}