That "Remind Me Later" button on your software update notification? It's one of the most dangerous buttons you click. The update you're postponing probably patches a vulnerability that attackers are actively exploiting right now. Here's why keeping software updated is the simplest security win available.

What Those Updates Actually Fix

Software updates — especially security updates — patch vulnerabilities that attackers have discovered, either through their own research or from "zero-days" (vulnerabilities that become public before a patch exists). Once a patch is released, those vulnerabilities become known, and attackers immediately start writing exploit code to target unpatched systems.

The timeline is unforgiving:

Once a patch exists, unpatched systems are essentially sitting ducks. Automated attack tools scan the internet for vulnerable systems and compromise them within hours of a patch release.

The High-Profile Examples

The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack exploited a Windows vulnerability that Microsoft had patched two months earlier. The attack affected 200,000 computers across 150 countries, including the UK's National Health Service hospitals. Organizations that had installed the update were unaffected.

In 2024, a critical vulnerability in Fortinet VPN devices affected thousands of companies. The patch existed for months before the vulnerability was widely exploited, but the companies that delayed updates suffered breaches that could have been prevented.

Which Updates Actually Matter

Not all updates are equal. Priority order for installing:

  1. Operating system updates — Windows, macOS, iOS, Android — these affect everything
  2. Web browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox — these interact with untrusted content constantly
  3. Password managers and security tools
  4. Applications you use to open files from others (PDF readers, Office, image viewers)
  5. Network equipment (routers, firewalls) — often neglected but critically exposed

Making Updates Less Painful

Enable Automatic Updates

The easiest solution: let your devices update automatically. Both Windows and macOS have auto-update settings. iOS and Android phones update automatically by default. Most password managers and browsers also have auto-update.

For automatic updates on Windows: Settings → Windows Update → Advanced Options → Enable "Automatically download updates"

Schedule Dedicated Update Time

If you need to manually update, schedule a recurring 30-minute block (e.g., the first Sunday of each month) to check for and install updates across all your devices. Document which devices you've updated so you don't forget.

Update Network Equipment

Routers and network-attached storage (NAS) devices are often forgotten but critically exposed — they're reachable from the internet and rarely checked. Most modern routers can update automatically. For NAS devices (Synology, QNAP, etc.), enable automatic updates in the control panel.

The Mobile App Update Problem

Mobile apps update less frequently than desktop software, but each update often patches security issues found in the previous version. Enable automatic app updates on your phone: iOS: Settings → App Store → App Updates (enable); Android: Play Store → Settings → Auto-update apps.

What to Do If You Can't Update

Sometimes updating isn't possible — legacy software with no update path, devices too old for new OS versions, or mission-critical systems that require extensive testing before updates. In these cases:

In cybersecurity, "good enough" security beats "perfect" security that you don't actually practice. Keeping your devices updated is the single habit that provides the biggest security improvement for the least effort. Enable auto-update, set a monthly reminder to check for router and legacy software updates, and rest easier knowing you've closed the most common entry points attackers use.