Why Software Updates Matter: A Simple Guide to Staying Safe
That little message appears at the worst moment. “An update is available.” You’re in the middle of something, so you tap “Remind me later,” and later turns into next week, then next month.
The good news is that updates are one of the simplest and most effective safety habits you can have, and you rarely need to do much to keep up. This guide explains what updates actually do, why delaying them is a risk, which of your devices need them, how to switch on automatic updates, what to do when a device stops getting updates, and how to tell a real update from a fake one. It draws on guidance from the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre, a government cyber page from Australia, and a university IT team. I name no brands, and menus differ from device to device, so check your own device’s instructions for the exact steps. This is general information, not professional security advice.
Why Software Updates Matter
Updates fix security holes
Software is written by people, and it sometimes has flaws. The Northern Ireland Cyber Security Centre says updates “deliver security patches that fix these flaws before they can be exploited.” The NCSC puts it simply: “Applying security updates promptly will help protect your devices and accounts from cyber criminals.” CISA’s tip sheet describes updates as “patching” weak spots, and adds, “If we don’t install them, they can’t protect us!”
Criminals look for old software
The Northern Ireland page warns that “Cyber criminals exploit flaws in outdated software every day, targeting both individuals and organisations.” It adds that each day an update is put off increases the risk. An Australian cyber security page (I couldn’t confirm which agency published it) uses a plain comparison: when your software isn’t up to date, “it is like leaving a door in your home unlocked.”
Updates do other jobs too
Updates also fix bugs, improve performance, and add features, according to the NCSC and CISA. That is a good reason to install them even if security isn’t on your mind. But the security fixes are what the agencies stress.
One of the quickest steps you can take
The NCSC describes updating as one of the most important and quickest steps you can take to stay safe online. I haven’t found a source that measures how much safer people are because of it, so I won’t put a number on it. What the sources agree on is that it is a basic habit that protects against known problems.
What updates won’t do
An update doesn’t make you immune. It won’t stop you being tricked into giving away a password, for example. Think of it as one layer of protection, alongside things like strong, unique passwords and caution with links.
What to Update: More Than Your Phone
Phones, tablets, and computers
The NCSC says to apply app and device software updates as soon as they are available, and not to ignore a prompt. CISA’s tip sheet says to install all updates, “especially for web browsers and antivirus software,” and to install critical updates as soon as possible.
Apps as well as the system
The NCSC lists apps alongside the main system. A phone can be fully up to date while the apps on it are not, so check both. Most devices can update apps automatically.
Smart devices and the rest of your home
The Northern Ireland page says to update all internet-connected devices, including smart TVs, routers, and baby monitors. The NCSC says to check the manufacturer’s support site for smart devices such as speakers, fitness trackers, and security cameras. The Australian page says the same for routers and smart devices, and advises turning on automatic updates where available. It’s easy to forget these, because they have no screen to nag you.
If a device has no automatic update
A page from the same US “Secure Our World” campaign offers a blunt tip: if a product doesn’t have an automatic update option, ask the provider why not, since your information is at stake. That is a fair question to ask before buying a new gadget.
Download only from official sources
The Northern Ireland page advises downloading updates only from official app stores or the manufacturer’s own site. That sets up the section on fake updates later in this guide.
A quick list to check
These are my own suggestions, not from the sources. Think about: your phone, any tablet, your computer, your web browser, your router, your smart TV, and any smart speaker, camera, or watch. If one of them hasn’t been updated in a long time, check it first.
How to Turn On Automatic Updates
The simplest option
The NCSC says to turn on automatic updates in your device’s settings, if available, so you don’t need to remember to update. The Northern Ireland page says devices will then install important updates as soon as they are available. CISA says to look in settings, possibly under Software or Security, or search the settings for “automatic updates.”
Not every update is automatic
CISA’s tip sheet adds that not every update can be automatic. The Australian page says larger upgrades to a device’s main system often need you to confirm them, and need the device to be plugged in and connected to the internet. So even with automatic updates on, you may still see a prompt now and then. When you do, don’t ignore it.
Timing and power
The NCSC suggests doing updates at home on Wi-Fi, since they can take time and need a reliable connection, and keeping the device plugged in while it updates. The Australian page says devices often update overnight when they are charging and on Wi-Fi. If your device offers a schedule, an overnight slot is a good option. That point is my own suggestion.
Before a big upgrade
The Australian page’s checklist includes backing up your data before a major system upgrade, and keeping enough free storage, because a full device can block updates. This is a sensible step, since big upgrades are the ones most likely to need your attention. If you’ve read our guide on wiping a phone before selling it, the backup advice there applies here too.
Setting up a new device
The same checklist says to check for updates when you first set up a new device, and to confirm that your device can still receive current updates. A brand-new device may already be behind on updates when you unbox it. That is an easy one to miss.
If automatic updates aren’t available
The Australian page says to check manually for updates if automatic ones aren’t available. A reminder on your calendar once a month is enough for most devices. That’s my own suggestion.
When Devices Stop Getting Updates
End of support
The Australian page explains that products past “end of support” stop receiving updates, which leaves them vulnerable. It gives two examples, an old computer system and an old phone model. The NCSC says the same: manufacturers eventually stop providing updates for older devices, and without security updates, “your phone is less secure.”
Don’t buy something that is already unsupported
The NCSC advises: “avoid buying and using phones that are no longer supported.” It adds that you don’t need the newest or most expensive model. That is useful if you are buying second-hand. Check the support status of the exact model before you buy. The NCSC page links to support lists for a few device families, and says to check with the manufacturer for others.
Replace what can’t be patched
The Northern Ireland page says: “Replace unsupported software or hardware, as these can’t be patched and pose a major security risk.” That can feel wasteful. If you can’t replace a device straight away, I’d at least stop using it for banking, shopping, and email, though that’s my own suggestion and not something the sources say.
How to find out
Look on the manufacturer’s support site for your exact model, or in the device’s settings, which often show when the last update was installed. If the date is old and there’s no update waiting, it may be unsupported. I haven’t found a single, universal way to check, so go to the maker’s own page.
Older doesn’t always mean unsafe
A device that still receives updates can be fine for years. What matters is whether the maker still provides security updates, not how old the device is. That is my reading of the NCSC’s advice.
Fake Updates, and a Simple Routine
Fake update prompts exist
Not every “update now” message is real. A university IT team warns that pop-ups urging software updates can be fraudulent and may deliver malware, phishing, or data theft. The CISA and NCSC pages I read didn’t cover this, so I’m relying on that university page, which carries no date.
How to spot a fake
The university page suggests several clues. Fake prompts may have typos or poor formatting, though not always. The link should match the software it claims to represent. Be cautious about update requests for software you don’t recall installing, or ones that appear on unrelated websites. And watch for pressure, since, in the page’s words, “Countdown timers are almost always a giveaway.”
What to do instead
Don’t click inside the pop-up. Close it, then go straight to the source: the device’s own settings, the official app store, or the manufacturer’s website. That matches the Northern Ireland advice to download only from official sources. An older Australian consumer alert, dating from 2009, gives similar advice about fake alerts: type the vendor’s address yourself, and don’t use contact details in a pop-up. It’s old, so I use it only for the principle.
A routine you can keep
These steps are my own suggestions, built from the sources:
- Turn on automatic updates on your phone, tablet, and computer.
- Check your browser and security software are set to update too.
- Once a month, look at your router, smart TV, and other connected devices.
- When a prompt appears, install it that day if you can.
- If a prompt looks odd, close it and check in your settings instead.
- Check that the devices you own still get updates, and plan to replace those that don’t.
Why we put it off
Most of us delay updates because they’re inconvenient. The simplest fix is to take the decision out of your hands with automatic updates, and to choose a time, such as overnight, when it won’t get in the way.
A short checklist
- Install updates promptly, and don’t ignore prompts.
- Turn on automatic updates wherever you can.
- Update apps, browsers, and security software too.
- Remember routers, smart TVs, and other connected devices.
- Back up before a major upgrade, and keep some storage free.
- Don’t buy or keep using devices that no longer get security updates.
- Update only from official sources, and treat pop-ups with suspicion.
Updating won’t make you invulnerable, but it closes a door that criminals know how to open. Turn on automatic updates today, and the habit takes care of itself.
