Should You Use Windows Update®?
Contributed by Elaine Landau
This question seems simple enough, but there are convincing arguments for both sides. If a person believes that by keeping their Windows as up-to-date as possible they are avoiding the latest and worst viruses, then using Windows Update is advisable. No one should feel insecure about his or her system. Many computer users see constant updating as a waste of time and ask, “If it’s not broken, why fix it?”
What is Windows Update?
Microsoft engineers are always striving to improve their product by solving problems, killing bugs and fixing backdoors in Windows. With every new version of Windows, previously detected problems have been solved and cutting-edge solutions have been put in place.
But even the most high-tech version of Windows is vulnerable to hackers. Microsoft actually has a posse of white hat hackers whose sole purpose is to breach Windows to determine vulnerabilities. Then there are the usual hackers who get perverse pleasure out of breaching Windows. In those cases, unless those breaches are reported to the Microsoft folks, the vulnerabilities will remain.
One complication.
Do you know if your Windows is store-bought or pirated? A lot of computer users have no idea. The answer to that question will affect whether or not you want to update your system. Before making any decisions, try to find out the answer.
Size matters.
Those who think updating Windows is a good idea tend to be large businesses with intranets. The truth is, one bad virus can infect an entire network and cause damage very quickly. Windows Update addresses and fixes problems that make those businesses vulnerable. The more high-tech your Windows version, the more likely the problems of the past have been solved. That means hackers have to work that much harder to discover weaknesses in order to do damage. With newer versions, big businesses can be virus-and-hacker-resistant for at least a little while.
Major web sites and big businesses must always be aware of the constant threat of invasion from DOS attacks, IE “tricks”, persistent hackers, crackers, and viruses. Windows Update, in these cases, makes sense.
If your company has a lot of employees with Internet access, Windows Update is a good option. So many times, viruses piggyback into the system when an employee visits a seemingly harmless site or opens an e-mail of unknown origin.
Windows updates don’t seem as imperative for home desktops and home networks. Hackers don’t tend to target them. Apparently, the payoff is not worth the effort. The Windows in-house firewall can usually protect the “little guys” from most threats. Therefore, if you have a basic computer education and basic Internet training and wish to spend time on your PC learning at home, you should not be too concerned about vulnerabilities and Windows Update.
Are you more susceptible to viruses if you are taking advanced tutorials in say Word, Excel®, Photoshop®, or PowerPoint®? Won’t visiting more sites and taking more online courses make your computer more vulnerable to hackers and viruses? Are you not as vulnerable if you work at home, but your business is related to national security issues, biochemical research, or other highly-sensitive areas? Every scenario invites new questions and raises new concerns. And that is why computer users continue to ask if they should use Windows Update.
So should you use Windows Update?
This is the simple answer. If you are a big entity with an infrastructure to protect, using Windows Update seems like a prudent move. If you work on a PC at home, on a laptop or have a small home network, using Windows Update might make you feel safer. Your Windows in-house firewall should be enough protection.
If you want a complicated answer, that isn’t the point of this article. There are as many computer experts as there are opinions. Read as many articles as you can and decide for yourself. You might just elect to go with your gut. It’s as good an answer as any.
Windows, Excel, and PowerPoint are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Photoshop is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Incorporated, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
About the Author:
Elaine Landau is a freelance writer, publicist, web site editor, and television writer with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and publicity.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not provide legal or other professional advice. All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Please read our disclaimer for additional terms and conditions governing access to and use of this article.
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