Software Information

Should I Use Windows Update?


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


MORE RESOURCES:

Fortune

Oracle Broadens Reach in Web-Based Software
Wall Street Journal
By BEN WORTHEN Oracle Corp. agreed to acquire online-software maker Taleo Corp. for $1.9 billion, its second such acquisition in recent months and the latest sign that the software industry's old guard is embracing a newer model.
Oracle Will Purchase Taleo for $46 a Share in Deal Valued at $1.9 BillionBloomberg
Oracle Embraces the Cloud With $1.9 Billion Taleo DealNew York Times
Oracle paying $1.9 billion for Taleo's HR softwareSan Francisco Chronicle
Forbes -San Jose Mercury News
all 452 news articles »


Tableau Software Positioned as "Challenger" in Leading Analyst Firm Magic ...
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Tableau® Software, the global leader in rapid-fire business intelligence software, today announced that Gartner, Inc. has positioned Tableau as a "Challenger" in its 2012 Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence Platforms* report.

and more »


Software maker Nuance shares plunge on 1Q miss
CBS News
Software maker Nuance Communications Inc. reported late Thursday that its first-quarter net income rose as revenue climbed for its health care, mobile and imaging applications, but its adjusted earnings and revenue fell short of analysts' expectations ...
Nuance Blunt In Earnings MissInvestor's Business Daily

all 31 news articles »


ND software <3794.OS>-2011/12 div forecast
Reuters
Feb 10 (Reuters) - ND SOFTWARE CO LTD PARENT-ONLY EARNINGS ESTIMATES (in billions of yen unless specified) Full year to Full year to March 31,2012 March 31,2012 LATEST PREVIOUS FORECAST FORECAST Annual div 45.00 yen 30.00 yen -Q2 div nil nil NOTE - ND ...

and more »


GrayHair Software releases a dynamic reporting engine to complement its cloud ...
MarketWatch (press release)
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ, Feb 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GrayHair Software, Inc., a leader in solutions for business mailers, announces the release of a ground-breaking reporting engine that expands the versatility and depth of the services offered in its ...

and more »


Home Media Magazine

Video-Game Retail Sales in US Slid 34% in January, NPD Reports
BusinessWeek
9 (Bloomberg) -- US retail sales of video-game hardware, software and accessories tumbled 34 percent in January to $750.6 million from a year earlier, researcher NPD Group Inc. said today in an e-mailed statement. Sales a year ago were $1.14 billion, ...
Videogame Sales Plunge 34 Percent in JanuaryPC Magazine
US video game sales fall 34 percent in January due to lack of new titlesWashington Post
January NPD: Sales down without big launches, Skylanders a hit for accessoriesJoystiq

all 111 news articles »


Software Developers Get SaaS-y with Expanded Software-as-a-Service Platform
EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
The software distribution platform allows software publishers to put their applications immediately in the cloud as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering with no development or rewrite effort. “Porting and conversion costs have been eliminated, ...

and more »


Callidus Software Increases Sales but Misses Estimates on Earnings
DailyFinance
By Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool Posted 11:19AM 02/09/12 Investing Callidus Software (NAS: CALD) reported earnings on Feb. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know. For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Callidus Software beat slightly on revenues and ...
Callidus Software to Participate in Upcoming Investor ConferencesMarketWatch (press release)
Callidus Software Slips To Wider Q4 LossNASDAQ
Callidus Software Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 ResultsMarketwire (press release)

all 27 news articles »


Raytheon Releases Software Upgrade for Airborne Communication System
MarketWatch (press release)
The enhancement is provided by an upgrade to Integrated Waveform (IW) software, following successful field tests hosted by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Prior to the software upgrade, this form of radio communications had limited ...

and more »


Quest Software Earnings Preview
DailyFinance
By Motley Fool Staff Posted 1:34PM 02/09/12 Investing Quest Software (NAS: QSFT) hasn't been able to establish an earnings trend, bouncing between beating and falling short of estimates during the past fiscal year. The company will unveil its latest ...

and more »

Google News

Home | Site Map

Powered By: Free Work At Home Business Opportunity!

© 2006