Before You Snooze
Why security updates should not wait
When an update interrupts your work, “remind me later” can be tempting. But software updates are not only about new features. Many contain fixes for security weaknesses in your operating system, browser, apps, or connected devices.
The process of finding and fixing those weaknesses is getting faster. Developers and security researchers can use AI to examine software and identify problems more quickly, which can lead to more frequent security fixes. Attackers can use AI to look for weaknesses faster, too. Once a fix is available, delaying the update gives attackers more time to exploit a known weakness and increases the chance that your device will be compromised.
Habits that Make Updating Easier:
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Turn on automatic updates. Enable them for your computer, phone, browser, apps, and connected devices whenever that option is available.
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Use a trusted source. Install updates through the device’s settings, the application itself, or an official app store. Do not use an update link from an unexpected email, advertisement, or pop-up.
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Restart when required. Some security fixes do not take effect until the device or application restarts. Save your work and choose a time to complete the update rather than postponing it indefinitely.
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Know when support ends. Software and devices eventually stop receiving security updates. If something you use is no longer supported, replace it or move to a supported version.
You do not need to interrupt an important meeting, class, or assignment the moment an update appears. Schedule it for a convenient time, but make sure “later” does not become “never.”
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Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be ending, but these habits work all year: pause before you click, use a unique password for every account, install security updates, limit what you upload, and stop before you paste an unfamiliar command.
The first draft of the above announcement was generated using AI and edited by the Division of Information Technology Communications and IT teams.
Posted: October 26, 2026, 1:00 PM
