Make Patching a Priority
There are three things I recommend you do to keep your devices and software better protected from online attacks.
1. Update
2. Update
3. Update
Yes, no joke.
Don't Get Exploited
A top priority of hackers is to exploit known vulnerabilities in software and hardware devices. Software vendors like Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, etc. and hardware manufacturers like Cisco, Netgear, Linksys, etc. release updates a.k.a. patches to fix security holes and bugs. Microsoft, for example, releases patches on a regular schedule for Windows - the second Tuesday of each month. That day is called "Patch Tuesday" in the industry.
Updates for Mobile Devices
On our mobile devices, updates should be notifying you, or automatically updating if you have the auto-update feature enabled.
Be Proactive on Your Computers
On your computers you will get notifications for updates to programs such as Adobe Reader, web browsers, security software, iTunes, etc. However, not all programs notify you. So it's up to you to be proactive. Check in a program's menus for the command to check for updates. This is often under the Help menu.
Patching the Internet of Things (IoT)
As I alluded, it's not just software that needs patching; hardware devices like routers do as well, as do printers, watches, X-boxes, smart-TVs, Internet-connected cameras, etc. Any device connected to the Internet, or which can connect to it in order to download data or programming, such as medical devices (which aren't always online), is part of the "Internet of Things", or IoT. Almost every IoT device can and should be patched when the fixes are released.
When in Doubt, Get Help
So, as laborious as it seems, and can be, do NOT ignore the update notices of software you trust, and notices for your IoT devices. If you are ever in doubt, ask a trusted IT guy/gal or local store, or check the vendor's website directly, such as hp.com, adobe.com, etc. Don't just Google "update my such and such". That's risky, because there are bogus sites out there that will infect your system or scam you.
Updates Change Features
Here's one caveat to installing updates, especially on Apple devices: Updates can change the appearance, features, and security requirements of the system. Apple, like all vendors, will implement changes per their discretion, which is not always pleasing to the end user.
Older, Incompatible Systems
Also, some older hardware and operating systems won't accept the latest software updates; they are no longer compatible with the latest release. Ultimately, this can translate into a vulnerability for a system with known issues, like old versions of Windows, which can't be patched. It's best to keep such computers offline, or replace them. Otherwise, each is a honey pot for a hacker.
Thanks for reading!
-Sam
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