One good feature of the internet is the ability to download
software updates from most software manufacturers to fix problems,
remove security vulnerabilities and add new features to existing
products.
This applies more importantly to operating systems, if a
security vulnerability is found, this can be exploited by
both hackers and viruses with the potential to cause catastrophic
damage in worst case scenarios. Equally, in Windows this also
applies to the email software which these days is the main
distributor of viruses because of the number of security vulnerabilities.
Further information on Viruses can be found here.
You will probably find most of the software you have installed
on you computer will have a page on the software manufacturer's
web site with updates available for download. It's generally
wise to install these updates as in most cases they will only
benefit you. Read what the update does first, and use your
judgement, as some just offer new features.
Windows has the same type of process in the form of 'Windows
Update', accessible through Internet Explorer. Some applications
have an online update feature built in, perhaps accessible
through the 'Help' menu. Other applications might just point
you in the direction of their web site.
Both the latest Apple Mac Operating Systems and Linux Distributions
also have online update features. Although you will find updates
for the older versions, as well as current updates easily
downloadable from their websites.
Other important kinds of updates are with system drivers,
display drivers, sound card drivers etc. When you buy a PC,
or graphics card, the drivers that come with it are likely
to be over a year old. Updating these drivers will make the
hardware work more efficiently, improving the way the hardware
functions etc. However you will need to ensure you know exactly
which driver you're looking for, ie the exact hardware name
('Matrox G100' for example), and Windows version ('Windows
XP Home' for example) etc. Please read the 'Drivers'
page first.
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