Patrick Freinschlag
Don’t put off updates
“Remind me later” is convenient – but every pending update is a known hole that attackers look for.
Updates don’t just bring new features. Above all, they close security holes – and as soon as an update is released, the hole is public knowledge. From that moment on, attackers look specifically for devices where it’s still missing.
What needs to stay up to date
- Operating systems on computers, laptops and smartphones.
- Programs such as browsers, Office and PDF readers.
- Routers, firewalls, NAS and printers – the ones most often forgotten.
- Websites and their plugins, e.g. on WordPress.
Making it routine
For smartphones, browsers and programs, automatic updates are usually the best choice. Routers, firewalls, NAS and servers are better updated deliberately: at a fixed time, with a fresh backup beforehand – so a faulty update doesn’t bring everything to a halt in the middle of the working day.
Devices that no longer receive updates should be replaced or disconnected from the network.
We take this routine off our clients’ hands: critical devices report their health to us, and we install updates in a controlled way – routers, firewall and NAS included.