5 Consequences Of Not Updating Your Computer’s Software Regularly
Every day, cyber-criminals are hard at work, looking to infiltrate the computer systems of unsuspecting business owners and individuals. When your computer software was originally developed and distributed, it contained hidden bugs or weaknesses that were not initially apparent.
That’s why it’s important to update your software regularly, to patch the software holes that have been discovered either by the software publishing company, the software users, or by cyber criminals.
5 Problems you can avoid by updating computer software
There are many types of cybercrimes, and most are totally preventable. Many people become victims of a computer crime because they post confidential information online, they have very weak passwords, or they open a suspicious email and click on a link that gives cyber criminals access to their computer’s operating system.
These mistakes can be avoided by having excellent antivirus software, following good internet browsing and shopping practices, and regularly changing old passwords to new and strong password assignments.
But, here are 5 potential types of cybercrime or problems that are related to one simple mistake – not updating your computer system’s software on a regular basis.
1. You are vulnerable to new malware attacks
Malware is malicious software designed to harm computers or networks, and this includes your home computer that is connected to the internet. Most malware is used to gain access to data that criminals can leverage over victims for financial gain or devious exploitation (like hijacking your computer’s camera to spy into your home).
2. Bad actors take over computers as ransomware
You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to be hit with a ransomware crime. In these cases, a bad actor takes over all control of a business computer system. This will typically grind all business operations to a halt, where each minute costs thousands of hundreds of dollars in losses unless the criminal’s demands are met.
3. You are at risk of other online threats
There are many ways that cybercriminals can exploit the information they find on your computer. They can even see every site you visit, know every keystroke you enter, and they can glean personal and family information from your computers. This opens the door to a wide range of threats including threats o violence, bullying, sabotage, theft of intellectual property, doxxing, reputation damage, and identity theft.
4. You don’t get the new operating system features
When you don’t regularly update your computer’s software, you increase the vulnerability of your computer’s security and your personal privacy. Computer updates to the operating system will harden your computers against new types of computer threats, and it makes sure your computers are performing at their highest levels.
5. You may be in violation of compliance regulations
Most industries that have computer systems with their customer’s personal and/or financial information on them must comply with privacy and data protection regulations such as HIPAA, PCI, or any other industry-specific guidelines. Regular computer updates and security audits may be a part of your industry’s computer system’s protocol.
Contact us today at InternetPrivacy.com for a computer threat intelligence assessment to see how we can protect you and your family’s privacy while on the internet.
