Signal Winter 2019 Newsletter

What Happens When Businesses Don’t Update? According to McAfee, a virus protec- tion software provider, the Equifax data breach in 2017 happened because “the hackers were able to access the credit reporting agency’s data through a known vulnerability in a web application. A fix for this security hole was actually available two months before the breach, but the company failed to update its software.” 2 As a result, the data of 143 million people was exposed, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers, and home addresses. When hackers gain access to information like this, they can sell it on the dark web to people who use it for malign purposes such as opening financial accounts in your name, gaining access to accounts you already have, or committing tax fraud. These actions can have a dev- astating impact on a victim’s finances for years to come. The Equifax data breach is an ex- ample of how millions of people can be affected when users don’t update their software, but the same general principle applies to individuals and their own devices. always have the latest versions of critical applications on your computer. Smartphone Updates Smartphone software updates matter just as much as those on your computer. To illustrate this point, here are some of the improvements made in the latest Android update, according to Android expert JR Raphael, writing for Computerworld: 1 • Expansions and restrictions to application programming interfaces (APIs), which allow third-party apps to interact with your phone • Apps use less memory, are more power-efficient, and load more quickly • Improved data management • Support for new Wi-Fi protocol • Advanced image processing • Restrictions on how apps can access the phone’s camera, microphone, and sensors • Improved encryption for data Google collects about you • More privacy with network connections Raphael goes so far as to state, “Software affects your phone-using experience more meaningfully on a day-to-day basis over the life of a modern mobile device than any other feature or element.” This is true no matter which OS your phone uses. Apple makes it easy for iPhone users to manually update to the latest version of iOS and recommends you make a backup of your device before doing so. You can also have your device update iOS automatically. As with computers, the apps your phone uses also need to be updated regularly in order for you to have the latest features as well as the highest level of security. That’s a Lot to Remember Remembering to update operating systems and all the software applications on all your devices might seem cumbersome, so here are several tips for making this necessary task a regular part of your life: • Check your devices, operating systems, and applications to find out which ones are already updating on their own. For example, to ensure all users always have the latest features, Windows 10 automatically performs periodic minor and major updates. • For other items, check to see if there’s a way to get them to update on their own. If not, check to see if you can get them to remind you when it’s time to update. • For remaining items, put a recurring reminder on your calendar, to-do app, or reminder app to check for needed updates and perform them at least once per quarter. • If you get a legitimate pop-up prompting you to update, do it as soon as possible. Think of these updates as regular device maintenance, similar to what you would do for your car. This old saying also applies, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 2 Source: https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/ consumer/consumer-threat-notices/ software-updates-important/ 1 Source: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3339621/android-upgrades-matter.html QUICK TIP: In addition to the OS and applications, you may also need to update drivers on your computer.