Not many of us view it this way, but owning technology should be treated like owning a car. In order for a car to run as it should, there are certain maintenance items that need to be checked along with fluid levels to keep the car performing as it should. For your safety, and that of your family, your car’s brakes should be working properly. When they need to be replaced, you shouldn’t debate if you are going to replace them (although you may be debating where to get the service completed).

Same thing goes for technology operating system software updates on your devices. Because we are busy, our automatic reaction to a window pop-up that alerts us of a need to update software is to quickly debate if we should update now or, more often than not, click “remind me later.’

But we shouldn’t debate it, we all need to be updating our software when we are notified of a device operating system update being available.

Here are 3 reasons why security updates are important:

Software updates remove security flaws
Do you want all of your information to be stolen? Do you want to be held hostage by ransomware? Of course not! Hackers look for flaws in your system, called vulnerabilities. Installing an update means eradicating the vulnerabilities that the software update fixes.

Software updates introduce new features
Technology keeps evolving. With every software update, developers add the latest features to our devices. New features are not always held for major software updates. Some of the time, new features are included in software updates that also include security fixes.

Software updates can improve performance
Device running slow? There could be numerous reasons for the lag, but first you should check whether your device software is updated. Various device operating systems, such as Android and iOS, start lagging when they are outdated.

Is your device updated?

Here is a quick cheat-sheet to check if your device is updated to the latest version on iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows, and Mac. While you are manually checking for updates, select the option to automatically install updates in the future.

Don’t worry if your steps are slightly different for checking updates, after all, each time your device updates things can change!

iPhone/iPad

  1. Plug your device into power
  2. Settings -> General -> Software Update
  3. Tap Download and Install

Android Phone/Tablet

  1. Plug your device into power
  2. Go to settings
  3. Tap “Software update”
  4. Tap “Check for Updates” or “Download updates manually”

Mac Computer

  1. Click on Apple Icon
  2. Select “System Preferences”
  3. Select “Software Update”
  4. Click on “Upgrade Now”
  5. Click “More info…” if told Another update is available
  6. Click Install Now

Windows Computer

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Click on “Update & Security”
  3. Check for available updates
  4. Click on “Download and Install”

No need to update alone, make it a family activity. After dinner one night, have everyone grab their devices and update as a family. Don’t forget your internet enabled TVs too!

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