Security Updates

Security updates can be annoying and frustrating.  We often get update requests at inconvenient times and don't want to take the time to install them.  That said, more and more, having the most recent security update installed is becoming more and more critical, to the point that it is part of our ethical obligation to protect client data.

Years ago, many updates were less important, making minor bug fixes or adding things that did not affect most of us.  Today, hackers are looking to exploit recently discovered security bugs so that they can attack the computers of people who are too slow to install security patches.  As a result, a device that is not completely up to date becomes a prime target for hackers in a way that was not true even a few years ago.

iPad / iPhone Updates

Last week, Apple release iOS 10.3.3 which patches a security hole that could allow a hacker access to your iPad or iPhone via a bug in the WiFi feature.  To make sure your iPad or iPhone is up to date, just go into settings, then General, then Software Update.  There, you should see that you are either up to date, or have an update pending.

Android Updates

If you have an Android device, you can go to Settings then System Updates.  Our firm phones, using Samsung Galaxy, should be up to date automatically. If you have been ignoring pop-ups telling you to update, you should go ahead and update.

Because Android is on a wide variety of hardware, you may have a personal device that forces you to update manually, or may not even make available the most recent security updates at all.  This is one reason the firm has decided to standardize on iOS devices, despite many other advantages that Android has over iOS.

As we tighten our security requirements, you may want to consider checking with the IT department before buying a new device, especially some of the cheaper Android devices out there.  The firm may soon cut off access to some older or cheaper devices that do not meet security standards for protecting client data confidentiality.

Windows

The firm has standardized on Windows 7 and Windows 10.  We have retired all of the Windows XP and earlier computers that had been in use.  As we make the move to the cloud, some of our vendors require us to have all computers at Windows 7 or higher.  All new computers will come with Windows 10, since Windows 7 is reaching end of life in a few more years.

Whichever version you have, you should get pop-ups from time to time asking you to install updates. Windows 10 is a little more persistent and annoying about such requests.  But in either case, you should install any critical or important updates which Microsoft has released.  Some of these happen automatically.  Some simply remind you to update yourself.  Many years ago, we did not always recommend installing the latest updates out of a fear that Microsoft sometimes introduced bugs with its updates.  Today that is not the case.  The risk of security holes far outweighs any risk of a buggy update.

On the right hand side of the toolbar, you should seen an icon for security updates.  If you hover your cursor over it, you can see if you have anything pending.  Clicking on it will allow you to update. Critical updates are usually pushed out and installed without asking.  If you have ever gone to shut down your computer and Windows says it is installing updates, you know what I mean.

MacOS

A few of our users have begun trying MacOS devices within the firm.  Like anything else, these also need regular updates.

To make sure your Mac is up to date, open the App Store and click on “Updates” (at the top right of the menu icons).   You should see a list of any available updates not yet installed.  You can click on the option to update any one of them, or simply "update all" to install everything.