Do I need Windows Updates for my PC? Which ones do i need? What do they do?

This is a question that is easily answered for the Home User. YES. Yes you need them and by not getting them you leave your PC vulnerable to viruses, trojans, worms, and anything else you can imagine that is bad for your PC.

Windows Updates are from Microsoft (the makers of Windows) so they are not malicious and are safe to download. Depending on your Operating System, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, these updates can come in a variety of categories. Home Users should be the most concerned about Priority Updates. These updates are released by Microsoft because a vulnerability has usually been reported that could expose your system to an intruder or infection. Hackers are constantly trying to find exploits and weaknesses in Windows that they can use to hack into other machines etc. These Fixes are extremely important for you to have on your PC.

When you see the Yellow shield it means you have updates that are ready to be downloaded/installed. Simply click on the shield to begin the process. The instructions are very easy to follow and usually just require Next, Yes, or Install etc. Many updates will require a restart of your PC to take effect.

Though this can be a bit bothersome, it is still well worth it to have the latest updates and patches etc. Just like your Anti-virus software protecting you against the latest threats, keeping your Windows up to date also protects you against threats. By keeping your Anti-virus Software, Anti-Spyware Software and keeping your Windows Operating System (XP, Vista, 7) up to date, it gives the Home User maximum protection. This protection against Viruses, Malware, Trojans, Worms and all the others while not guaranteed to keep you from getting infected, certainly will reduce your chances of getting infected. The more up to date your software is, the better chance your system has to protect itself from infection.

There are also Optional Updates that can be installed. These updates are at the User's Discretion. Any Security Update would be listed as a Priority Update, so if you don't install an Optional Update it will not compromise your security. You can also read a description of what each update does. Some are only for specific machines or devices. Depending on the age of your machine, you may see Windows MEdia Player in your Optional Updates. Usually it is not a Priority update as it not a Security related concern, but is something most people would probably want the latest version of. Others are bit more obscure.

Another category of updates is Hardware. This category is one where the idea and theory behind it was pretty good but in the real world doesn't work very well. The idea was to have Windows Update manage the latest Updates to Hardware no matter the Manufacturer etc. The problem with it was that Windows was usually far behind on the latest drivers. Sometimes by more than 2 or 3 versions. Very rarely should you ever download a Hardware update via Windows update. Hardware is controlled by Drivers (Next Week's Topic) so we won't cover it here. The Bottom line is stay away from Hardware updates via Windows Update.

Priority Updates should always be download and installed for the latest security updates. When you see the shield, you should install and apply the updates etc. Optional updates can be installed at your own discretion but are not needed for Security purposes. Hardware updates, stay away from them as they are most likely old and out dated. At Zolex PC, we always keep your Windows up to date. Though it can take a little extra time, the benefit is well worth it. By keeping your Security Software and your Windows updated, you are reducing it's chances of getting infected. Thanks for reading.

Steve
www.zolexpc.com

Next Weeks Topic: Drivers, Drivers and more Drivers.