I Keep Getting Update Notifications, Why?
Hackers, those that would love to get in and take your site over, change your life for the worse, and infect your email contacts and website visitors, do so when the updates are not completed.
Computers are great for communication. They are open doors too. If you keep your updates current, your website, your computer, and your Anti-Malware, Anti-Virus programs, you will go a long way to keeping things that way.
What people say to me about updates:
1. I am afraid to do updates because some things won’t work afterwards.
This is a legitimate concern, but not a safe action. If things don’t work the same afterwards, those things might need an update too. I recommend you update the programs and drivers in a computer, AND update the plugins and extensions for a website before the system is updated. Don’t update WordPress before updating the plug-ins. Don’t update to Windows 10 until you have done the drivers and other software updates first.
2. I don’t understand what it is going to do to my computer.
Another legitimate concern. Computers are complicated in their components and systems. Ask a local (to you) tech to do the updates. Many of them will set up a monthly maintenance service with you. Many updates can be done remotely. If you chose this option, make sure you are connecting with a personally recommended technician.
3. I don’t recognize some of the updates and am not sure I should do them.
This is BIG. In this day and age of computers, it is vital that you FIRST have the computer scanned for Malware and make sure it is free of unintentional programs. Why? Because some malware is designed to look like the real updates, while it is really providing a backdoor into your system for a much more serious Malware Hack. Most technicians will scan for Malware. I recommend using Malwarebytes. It is free and it is efficient.
What I say about updates:
1. Scan first for Malware
2. Update drivers, and software before a SYSTEM (Operating Software) upgrade.
3. Keep up on Windows Updates. Let Windows manage those.
4. ALWAYS UPDATE these programs:
- Adobe products
- Anti-virus, Anti-malware products
- Microsoft products
- Windows program
- Remote Control software such as Logmein, Teamviewer, PC Anywhere
- Internet Browsing Software
If you don’t know, ASK. If your friends have a tech they like, call that person. NEVER ACCEPT help from a COLD CALL company for computer service, especially if the caller says:
“We want to inform you that your computer is infected and you are infecting other computers.”
Hang up from that call and use it as a reminder to have your system checked. If you do not know how to do it, call someone you know and trust.
Use a quality anti Malware product:
