Turn on automatic updates where available, install security updates promptly, and periodically confirm that updates are still completing. Keep a current backup and use only the device maker’s or software publisher’s supported update path. Your checklist should cover operating systems, apps, browsers and extensions, and device firmware—not just the phone or computer you use most.
What to keep updated
Software updates can fix security flaws and other problems, improve performance, or add features. Security fixes matter because attackers may exploit known vulnerabilities in software that has not been patched. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends keeping operating systems, browsers and extensions, applications, and firmware current.
- Operating systems: The core software on computers, phones, and tablets.
- Browsers and extensions: Browsers are complex and exposed to websites, which makes them particularly important to keep current.
- Applications: Include apps you use regularly, not only those installed through an app store. Some programs have their own update function or publisher instructions.
- Firmware: Software closely tied to a device’s hardware and startup or operation. Routers and other connected devices may have firmware or a companion app that the manufacturer expects owners to maintain.
Make a simple inventory of your devices, their operating systems, key apps, browsers, and any manufacturer-managed firmware. The exact update settings and support periods vary by model, maker, region, and software version; consult the maker’s current instructions for a specific device.
Set up a routine for personal devices
- Enable built-in automatic updates. Turn them on for operating systems and apps wherever the option is available. For programs without automatic updates, use the app’s own update function or the publisher’s official instructions.
- Install notifications promptly. The NCSC advises installing updates when notified, ideally within a few days. Treat that as general guidance, not a universal legal deadline; give priority to updates the vendor identifies as security-critical.
- Plan for restarts. An update may require a restart or interrupt use. On a computer, save your work and let the installation finish rather than repeatedly postponing it. Windows provides controls such as active hours and deadlines in managed settings; the precise controls depend on how the device is configured.
- Check that automation is working. Automatic updates can stop completing, including when a device runs low on storage. Periodically open the device’s update settings or app store and look for pending updates, errors, or a request to restart.
- Keep a backup. Set up regular or automatic backups so you have a recovery copy if the device fails or an update causes a problem. Choose a destination separate enough from the device to remain useful if that device is lost or damaged; an external drive is one option, not a requirement.
For a manual update, open the device’s built-in update settings or navigate to the software publisher’s official site yourself. CISA’s archived update guidance warns against update links or attachments in unexpected emails and ads, and advises using trusted vendor sources. It also recommends avoiding untrusted networks when feasible; that advice is not a reason to indefinitely delay an urgent security fix.
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Handle firmware with extra care
Firmware updates follow device-specific procedures. Use the manufacturer-supported method, whether that is a built-in updater, a companion app, or a supported operating-system update mechanism. Do not install firmware files or follow instructions from unofficial download sites.
On some Windows systems, a manufacturer can package firmware with drivers and deliver it through Windows Update to UEFI UpdateCapsule. Microsoft explains that the firmware package creator is responsible for verifying that the payload has not been tampered with. This is one supported delivery mechanism, not a guarantee that every computer or accessory receives firmware updates through Windows Update.
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NIST’s platform firmware guidance describes protections intended to prevent unauthorized changes, detect changes, and recover from attacks. Apple’s Platform Security documentation, published February 18, 2021, describes checks that authorize installation of operating-system versions Apple is actively signing on supported devices and are designed to help prevent downgrade attacks. These examples explain why supported update paths matter; they do not establish which update is currently available for a particular device.
Choose automatic or manual updates
| Approach | Best fit | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic updates | Most personal devices and apps that offer a reliable built-in option. CISA recommends enabling automatic updates where possible. | Updates may restart a device or wait for suitable conditions. Check periodically for failed or pending installations, and make sure there is enough storage. |
| Manual updates | Apps or devices without automatic updates, or firmware processes that the maker requires the owner to start. | Remember to check regularly and use only the publisher’s or manufacturer’s supported instructions. Do not rely on an old download or an email attachment. |
Automation reduces the chance that routine updates are forgotten, but it is not a substitute for checking whether updates actually completed. Manual updating is necessary where automation is unavailable or a maker specifies a manual step.
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Manage updates across an organization
A household can generally rely on built-in automatic updates and periodic checks. A business, school, or other organization has additional concerns: an update can affect service availability, and administrators need to know which devices and software are covered.
NIST SP 1800-31, published in April 2022, treats patching as covering firmware, operating systems, and applications. It describes an organizational process that can include inventory, risk-based prioritization, testing where operational impact warrants it, routine and emergency deployment, and verification that updates reached devices. For a fleet, a practical sequence is:
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- Inventory the devices, operating systems, applications, and firmware in scope.
- Prioritize updates by security urgency and the criticality of affected devices or services.
- Test updates when disruption or compatibility risk makes testing appropriate.
- Deploy on a defined schedule, with an emergency path for urgent fixes.
- Verify installation and identify devices that remain unpatched.
Microsoft says Windows automatic-update defaults are generally appropriate for user productivity and security. Organizations can configure schedules, active hours, and deadlines to reduce disruption while still requiring installation; Microsoft recommends deadlines in commercial and education settings. Microsoft’s cross-platform inventory and policy guidance, including minimum operating-system-version compliance through Intune across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, is for managed fleets—not a prerequisite for a household routine.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do when support ends
End-of-life or end-of-support software is no longer receiving supported updates from its vendor. Check the manufacturer’s support information for the exact model or version rather than assuming a device is still covered because it powers on or continues to work.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
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If support has ended, plan to migrate, replace, or retire the product. If immediate replacement is not feasible, consider whether you can isolate it from sensitive activity while you make a plan. A cleanup or repair utility cannot restore security support that the vendor has discontinued.
CISA’s Binding Operational Directive 26-02 defines end of support to include devices, firmware, and software versions that no longer receive supported updates. Its mandatory measures apply to specified U.S. federal civilian executive branch systems and their network-edge devices; it is not a general consumer requirement.
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