When vendors become aware of vulnerabilities in their products, they often issue patches to fix those vulnerabilities. Make sure to apply relevant patches to your computer as soon as possible so that your system is protected. Patches are software and operating system (OS) updates that address security vulnerabilities within a program or product. Software vendors may choose to release updates to
fix performance bugs, as well as to provide enhanced security features. When software updates become available, vendors usually put them on their websites for users to download. Install updates as soon as possible to protect your computer, phone, or other digital device against attackers who would take advantage of system vulnerabilities. Attackers may target vulnerabilities for months or even years after updates are
available. Some software will automatically check for updates, and many vendors offer users the option to receive updates automatically. If automatic options are available, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends that you take advantage of them. If they are not available, periodically check your vendor’s websites for updates. Make sure that you only download software updates from trusted vendor websites. Do not trust a link in an email message—attackers
have used email messages to direct users to websites hosting malicious files disguised as legitimate updates. Users should also be suspicious of email messages that claim to have a software update file attached—these attachments may contain malware (see Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information). If possible, only apply automatic updates from trusted network locations (e.g., home, work). Avoid
updating software (automatically or manually) while connected to untrusted networks (e.g., airport, hotel, coffee shop). If updates must be installed over an untrusted network, use a Virtual Private Network connection to a trusted network and apply updates. Users can install updates manually or elect for their software programs to update automatically. Sometimes vendors will discontinue support for a software program or issue software updates for it (also known as end-of-life [EOL] software). Continued use of EOL
software poses consequential risk to your system that can allow an attacker to exploit security vulnerabilities. The use of unsupported software can also cause software compatibility issues as well as decreased system performance and productivity. CISA recommends that users and administrators retire all EOL products. Best Practices for Software Updates
New vulnerabilities are continually emerging, but the best defense against attackers exploiting patched vulnerabilities is simple: keep your software up to date. This is the most effective measure you can take to protect your computer, phone, and other digital devices. Please share your thoughts. We recently updated our anonymous product survey; we'd welcome your feedback. Windows Update is a free Microsoft service that's used to provide updates like service packs and patches for the Windows operating system and other Microsoft software. It can also be used to update drivers for popular hardware devices. Patches and other security updates are routinely released through Windows Update on the second Tuesday of every month—it's called Patch Tuesday. However, Microsoft releases updates on other days as well, like for urgent fixes. What Is Windows Update Used For?Windows Update is used to keep Microsoft Windows and several other Microsoft programs updated. Updates often include feature enhancements and security updates to protect Windows from malware and malicious attacks. You can also use Windows Update to access the update history that shows all the updates that have been installed to the computer through the Windows Update service. Windows Update AvailabilityAll modern Windows operating systems use Windows Update, like Windows 11 and Windows 10, but also the other versions through Windows XP. However, this service doesn't update most of your other, non-Microsoft software. You'll need to update those programs yourself or use a free software updater program to do it for you. How to Access Windows UpdateHow you access Windows Update depends on which Windows operating system you're using: Windows 11 and Windows 10: Windows Update is built-in and a part of Settings, available from the Start menu. Windows Update (Windows 11).Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista: Windows Update is integrated as a Control Panel applet and is accessible from within Control Panel. Windows Update (Windows 8). Windows Update can also be accessed in Windows Vista and newer by executing this command from the Run dialog box (WIN+R). Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98: In older Windows versions, Windows Update is accessible using the Windows Update website through Internet Explorer. Windows Update (Windows XP).See How to Check For & Install Windows Updates if you need more specific instructions. How to Use Windows UpdateAfter opening Windows Update as described above, the list of available updates, customized to your specific computer, is shown. Select the updates you wish to install and follow any instructions given to download and install the updates. Most of the process is entirely automated and might require just a few actions on your part, or you'll be prompted to restart the computer after the updates are finished installing. Older Versions of Windows UpdateThe Critical Update Notification tool (which was later renamed to Critical Update Notification Utility) is a tool Microsoft released around the time of Windows 98. It runs in the background and notifies you when a critical update is available through Windows Update. That tool was replaced by Automatic Updates, which is available in Windows Me and Windows 2003 SP3. Automatic Updates allows updates to be installed without having to go through a web browser, and it checks for updates less frequently than the Critical Update Notification tool. More Information on Windows UpdateSince Windows Vista, updates may have the .MANIFEST, .MUM, or .CAT file extension to indicate a manifest file, Microsoft Update Manifest file, or security catalog file. See our guide on How to Fix Problems Caused by Windows Updates if you suspect that a patch is the source of an error message or other problem. Some non-Microsoft programs install Windows updates if you don't want to use Windows Update. Some examples include OUTDATEfighter and Autopatcher. Windows Update is not the same utility as Microsoft Store (previously called Windows Store), which is used to download music and apps. See How to Update Apps on Windows 11 for help updating software obtained through Microsoft Store. Although Windows Update can update some device drivers, many aren't provided by Microsoft. These might include anything from a video card driver to a driver for an advanced keyboard, in which case you'll want to update those drivers yourself. One really easy way to download and install drivers without using Windows Update is through a free driver updater tool; some are basically hands-off and automatic, like Windows Update. Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe What does applying software patches protect against 1 point?Security: Patch management fixes vulnerabilities on your software and applications that are susceptible to cyber-attacks, helping your organization reduce its security risk.
Why is it important to keep software up to date quizlet?Why is it important to keep software up-to-date? To address any insecurity vulnerabilities discovered. d and fixed by the software vendor, applying these updates is super important to protect yourself against attackers.
What is the purpose of application policies?So, it's important to have some kind of application policies in place. These policies serve two purposes. Not only do they defined boundaries of what applications are permitted or not, but they also help educate folks on how to use software more securely.
Which of these plays an important role in keeping attack traffic off your systems and helps to protect users?While antivirus software helps to protect the file system against unwanted programs, a firewall helps to keep attackers or external threats from getting access to your system in the first place.
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