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Cyber Security Awareness Month

These tips are part of a month long effort to distribute useful computer security information to the SLAC community.

Day 13 - Patching and Updates

Every program on your computer will eventually need patching/updating, or removing. Sometimes the software needs updates because the vendor finds there are bugs which need to be fixed, or sometimes they add new features. Still other times it is because somebody has found a way to misuse the software to wriggle their way into your computer! You could argue this is a bug in the software which needs to be fixed but it is really important to fix these bugs because of the nefarious individuals lurking on the Internet just waiting for the chance to grab another computer to be used as a spam-bot or worse. Rule #1: If you aren't using the software, remove it. Sometimes we install software on our computers and then over time we stop using it. This software should be removed. Rule #2: If you are using the software then make sure you keep it up to date all the time. Luckily, most of the software we run on our computers now comes with auto-update features and we highly encourage you to heed the reminders to update the software. Please make it a high priority to follow through when the software tells you an update is available. Rule #3: If you don't need the software, don't install it. What isn't there won't need fixing!!