The Importance of Updates in Data Protection

With all of the programs the ordinary user has installed on his computer, users are frequently proposed to have a software update performed. Though it may seem like a hassle to have to wait a while without being able to use the computer and though it may seem that the software developer is out to annoy you, this is surely not the case. Since programs are complex and do require a great amount of detail, there are usually some bugs that need solving and it is always advantageous to improve the stability and performance of the program on your device. The importance of this is underscored by the fact that hackers specifically target outdated software versions in order to exploit them. 

Using a vulnerable version of a web browser can allow cyber criminals to access your computer and abuse the software on it to steal your information. They could end up with your usernames, passwords, even information that could enable them to rob your bank account.

Cyber criminals work tirelessly to exploit holes in such software, thus requiring developers to constantly have to patch them. Some of the most commonly exploited programs are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Internet Explorer, and Adobe Flash. Many people hope it won’t be them until it’s too late. It would be worthwhile to have a program scan your computer to check update availability for your software and install update additions as soon as they are developed. 

How to Check OS Version

It is also a good idea to keep your operating system version up to date. To see what version of Windows you have, first click on the Windows logo, then click on Settings > System > About. Under device specifications, click “System Type”. Subsequently, you will be able to see under “Windows specification” which version of Windows your device is running. If you have an Apple computer, click on the Apple menu in your screen’s corner and then click “About This Mac”. You will see the title of your macOS along with its version number. 

Employee-Assigned Laptops

Companies often like their employees to work from home. For various reasons, there is growing popularity among companies handing out a personal laptop to their employees for remote connection. One of the reasons is information security. Companies would prefer that all of the data related to the company does not leave its devices. Thus, its data remain secure. Furthermore, it is common for employees to complain that their device doesn’t operate well, and this is often used as an excuse. It is  a very prudent idea to eliminate the potentiality of this being an issue and just provide a quality laptop for employees. Also, teamwork will be smoothed out by the fact that all of the employees are using the same devices. The only downside to this is the cost. If the company specializes in advertising or online services, it is a smart investment to buy high-quality computers that the employee will be obligated to return later. The more the employee has to work on the move, the more essential it also is to have them use company-issued devices. In order to gain access to this system, there must be an encrypted tunnel to ensure that there are no breaches in data security. For this purpose, a remote desktop is used, which connects the company to either the company’s own VPN server or a reliable third party’s VPN.