Should one use Windows Update?
This topic has good and valid arguments on both sides. Some would say keeping your windows up to date is essential in keeping it free of the newest, worst viruses and the like. Others would say that updating your windows is overemphasized, unneeded and a waste of time.
In the future, Microsoft will have ways of detecting whether your version of windows is actually store-bought, or pirated. With so many copies of pirated windows on the market, such a move by Microsoft is almost required in order to continue cornering the OS market. For instance, when SP 1 (and 2) came out, you had to have an authentic windows serial code in order to download the update. There are of course ways of getting around this, but it deterred much illegal upgrading to the new service packs. Had you have had a pirated copy of windows (and the majority does), then you could have downloaded a copy of windows SP 1/2, but you would have had to completely re-install and possibly format in order to install it.
If you had an original windows serial code that came with the product, you could have just downloaded the packs from the windows update servers.
So yes, having a non-pirated copy of windows is a convenience. However, some would remember a stunning virus that was released not too long ago; MyDoom. It managed to find its ways onto the Microsoft windows update servers. When you got the virus, you would have 30 seconds before the computer shut down. Should you have formatted, just to re-install windows with automatic updates turned on (and they are by default) you would get the virus again.
And not to mention Windows Updates are a large time factor. Some updates (especially the first time you use Windows Update) are colossal, and the download speeds are not always at their greatest. Someone on 56k would have a very hard time using windows update at all (and if you do, I recommend not bothering).
Now, you ask, what exactly is Windows Update? It's simply Microsoft engineers working hard to fix bugs, problems and backdoors in Windows. What are these problems, you ask? Well, when Microsoft released windows it wasn't exactly a perfect OS. With every version of Windows, it becomes more and more hi-tech. But there has always been problems with Windows being insecure.
The only way to find that Windows has a certain vulnerability is first for that vulnerability to be exploited. Eg, Microsoft using white hat hackers (the good guys) to breach windows, or for a hacker to break into a version of Windows and it is reported.
So, to answer the question, is it important to update your windows? It's hard to say, without the answer being a biased opinion. I will give both sides of the argument merit, but it honestly depends on what you want to do with your PC. For large businesses with intranets, windows updates are likely a good idea. It only takes one serious OS fault for a hacker or a bad virus to leak in and infect the whole network. Windows faults and security issues, IE backdoors, etc. Windows update constantly has fixes for these problems.
For a home desktop, even for a home network, windows updates really aren't that important. No one wants to hack the small guy; there is nothing to gain from it. Should you use a simple firewall, even the windows in-house firewall, you are protected from most threats. But big business is always at risk; major websites are constantly under the gun from DoS attacks and IE "tricks." Windows Updates cannot really help DoS attacks, but they can prevent hackers, crackers, viruses and the like from entering their network computers from faults in the windows code.
So to answer the question - should I use windows update? If you've got a lot of infrastructure you want to protect, yes. If you're a small guy, one PC at home, one laptop; even a few computers thrown together in your home network. The answer is no. I don't recommend it, anyway. Just throw on your windows firewall, Black Ice Defender, Norton, Avast....what have you. And enjoy browsing. That's about it.
I am a young, aspiring computer engineer into Internet Marketing, hardware, software, web design, SEO and just about anything related to computers. Please come check out my growing PC forum at http://www.markspcforum.com
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..Microsoft Business Solutions CRM data conversion deserves FAQ type of... Read More
New post-recession era has new features, which didn't exist in... Read More
It would be easy to think, like most people apparently... Read More
Assertion facility is added in J2SE 1.4. In order to... Read More
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Hawaii (HMSA) found itself... Read More
If your company has regional and worldwide operations, you might... Read More
A few months back I really got sick of my... Read More
COMMAND LINE FUNCTIONA powerful command line script processor has been... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains, designed back in 1990th as database transferable... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains serves majority of US based horizontal and... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main mid-market application from Microsoft Business... Read More
Around the same time Microsoft made its move with .Net... Read More
There are so many different programs that clutter up your... Read More
I like my software simple. If it's too complex or... Read More
What is Interactive Mapping?Interactive mapping is a visual display medium... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions.The whole... Read More
Is your PC is slow and wimpy? Then you need... Read More
Sales are all about leverage, because there is only so... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main accounting / ERP application... Read More
FTP stands for "file transfer protocol". FTP is basically a... Read More
... Read More
The term "document management" and "paperless office" is the subject... Read More
In the early days of the personal computer, we're talking... Read More
Program Flow is what you think it is. How the... Read More
I love new technology. I am still ready to wait... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..Having from five to ten and more favorite screensavers is... Read More
Preventive Maintenance (PM) is defined as scheduled work done on... Read More
Before September of 1995, Microsoft ignored the Internet because their... Read More
An integral part of any quality CRM system is lead... Read More
Java has come along a long way. Many would agree... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM proved to be reliable solution in... Read More
When making a decision to buy any piece of software... Read More
Microsoft Word is one of the most popular office applications... Read More
Internet worms. Is your PC infected?If your computer has become... Read More
The purpose of one of our projects was MS Exchange... Read More
In a previous article, I wrote about OpenOffice... Read More
As we could imagine, if you are reading this article... Read More
Hey Guys! Don't raise your eyebrows or fear by hearing... Read More
1. With mapping software you can create a report that... Read More
Microsoft Office program is a programming tool called Visual Basic... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Navision serves both European and American megamarkets.... Read More
Accounts payable is just one area of office management where... Read More
Configuring PPP PAP AuthenticationNow we know how the ISDN link... Read More
Every organization which creates collaborative documents, whether they are budgets,... Read More
Usually workflow & messaging is realized in CRM and then... Read More
Most computer users use spreadsheets software such as Microsoft Excel... Read More
It's not very often I get excited about a software... Read More
If someone entered your home, uninvited and installed numerous cameras... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains as new ERP for multinational... Read More
While I was preparing some personal background information for a... Read More
Software |