As a general rule, you want to keep your software updated so as to have the latest and most protected version available. Often, developers know of the latest threats before consumers and work tirelessly to protect against them. You can lose the hassle of having to manually update by turning on this feature.

Attackers have used email messages to direct users to websites hosting malicious files disguised as legitimate software updates. Users should also be suspicious of email messages that claim to have a software update file attached—these attachments may contain malware.

Manufacturers issue updates as they discover vulnerabilities in their products. Automatic updates make this easier for many devices—including computers, phones, tablets, and other smart devices—but you may need to manually update other devices. Only apply updates from manufacturer websites and built-in application stores—third-party sites and applications are unreliable and can result in an infected device. […]

While many updates to operating systems and applications are minor and take just a few minutes to complete, others are huge and make require hours. To minimize delays and hassle, it’s a good idea to schedule updates overnight, when you’re not using the device and when update servers aren’t as busy. This will also help […]

Many smartphones, tablets and laptops are eventually abandoned by their manufacturers, at least when it comes to regular security and OS updates. If this happens to a device you rely on, consider switching it out for a newer or alternative version or one that is still receiving these critical patches and upgrades.