Update Blues

Yesterday was an absolute nightmare whilst trying to close my overused laptop off. The day before was what is commonly referred to as “Patch Tuesday”, the day that Microsoft releases a whole series of updates for Windows and it’s applications. This occurs on the second Tuesday of every month. Which meant that during my use of the computer on Wednesday, Windows Update wen into overdrive and downloaded 37 (yes thirty seven) updates.

Now whilst this is a bit of an inconvenience this is an essential process to follow. Updates are additions to software that can help prevent or fix problems, improve how the computer works, or enhance the computing experience.

Updates are classified as Important, Recommended, Optional, and Featured. This is what each classification means:

• Important updates offer significant benefits, such as improved security, privacy, and reliability. They should be installed as they become available, and can be installed automatically with Windows Update.

• Recommended updates address non-critical problems or help enhance your computing experience. While these updates do not address fundamental issues with your computer or Windows software, they can offer meaningful improvements. These can be installed automatically.

• Optional updates can include updates, drivers, or new software from Microsoft to enhance your computing experience. You can only install these manually.

Depending on the type of update, Windows Update can deliver the following:

• Security updates. A broadly released fix for a product-specific security-related vulnerability. Security vulnerabilities are rated based on their severity, which is indicated in the Microsoft security bulletin as critical, important, moderate, or low.

• Critical updates. A broadly released fix for a specific problem addressing a critical, non-security related bug.

• Service Packs. A tested, cumulative set of hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates, as well as additional fixes for problems found internally since the release of the product. Service Packs might also contain a limited number of customer-requested design changes or features.

Given that the security of the computer may be compromised its still important to maintain these updates, this is one inconvenience that we as users just need to grin and bear.