“Updates are available. Restart now?” It always seems to pop up at the worst time, and it’s tempting to click “Remind me tomorrow” for a few weeks. Here’s why that’s worth resisting.
What updates actually do
Most updates aren’t about new features. They close security holes that criminals have already found. Once a fix is released, attackers study it to learn exactly what the weakness was, then go looking for computers that haven’t installed it yet. An unpatched computer is an open door they know how to find.
It’s not just Windows
- Web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
- PDF readers
- Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 apps
- Accounting and other business software
- Routers, firewalls and printers, which are often forgotten for years
Making it painless
- Let updates install overnight, and leave computers on and logged out at the end of the day on update nights.
- Restart at least once a week. Many updates don’t finish until you do.
- If a program is so old it can no longer be updated, plan to replace it.
This is exactly the kind of chore our Managed IT service handles for you: updates install automatically, quietly, outside your working hours, and we deal with the ones that fail.
Want a second opinion on your setup? Your first 15 minutes are on us. Call (403) 381-7080 or send us a message. Already a client and need help now? Start here.