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Keeping your operating system and applications up to date is one of the best ways to protect yourself from being hacked.

An update is a new, improved or safer version of a software.​

All your personal or business devices including your phone, tablet, computer or laptop use software to run. Software includes:

  • Operating systems like Windows, Android and macOS

  • Apps on your phone

  • Games on your console

  • Your anti-virus, your browser or word processors at work.

Many software providers release these free updates for their products, to correct security concerns and improve functionality.

An automatic update is a default or ‘set and forget’ feature that updates your software as soon as an update is available.​

Safer. Faster. Better.​

Cybercriminals, malicious programs and viruses can find weaknesses in your software (called vulnerabilities) to access your device. Software providers release updates for their products to correct security concerns and improve functions. Installing regular updates fixes these vulnerabilities to improve your protection and your business’s protection from loss of money, data and identity.

Installing software updates as soon as they become available limits the amount of time cybercriminals have to find and use these weaknesses.

Updates also provide enhanced features and efficiencies for programs and apps.

 

Anti-virus software requires regular signature updates to remain effective.

Anti-virus software requires regular signature updates to remain effective. Anti-virus updates generally occur daily and most applications will default to installing automatically. 

Setting up automatic updates

  • Turn on or confirm auto-updates, especially for operating systems.
  • Regularly check for and install updates ASAP if auto-updates are unavailable, especially for software.
  • Install updates as soon as possible (if auto-updates unavailable).
  • Set a convenient time for auto-updates to avoid disruptions to business as usual.
  • If you use anti-virus software, ensure automatic updates are turned on. 

NOTE: If your hardware or software is too old it may not auto-update and leave your business susceptible to technical, software and security issues.

Where do I turn it on?

How to turn on automatic updates can differ depending on your operating system and your programs.

This guide steps you through turning on automatic updates on a desktop computer or mobile device using Microsoft Windows 10.

Microsoft provides regular updates for Windows 10.

Windows Update is free and provides the latest security and other important updates from Microsoft automatically (including updates for Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and Edge).

Automatic updates are turned on by default in Windows 10.

Updating your Android software is easy – just wait for the notification to appear.

Notifications are sent when updates for Android are available. Please note that Android update notifications can sometimes be delayed. 

For detailed information on Android updates visit: 

  • Google support website

  • Android security bulletins

  • your manufacturer 

  • your service provider 

Apple generally provides updates for the latest and immediately previous versions of their operating system, but not for older versions.

For detailed information visit the Apple website: 

  • Apple OS X Support (PC)
  • Apple iOS Support (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch). 
 

It’s very important that you regularly download and install updates for web plugins and other vulnerable software too – such as Adobe products and Java.

Vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash, for example, are some of the most popularly-targeted by hackers for exploitation. Automatic updates are available for these products, but ideally uninstall Adobe Flash to limit this risk. 

For detailed information on updates for plugins and other software visit your vendor’s website, or select from some of the popular plugin vendors below: 

  • Adobe bulletins and advisories
  • Java updates

1. Click Apple icon in the menu > System Preferences. Ensure your external storage device is plugged in

2. Select Time Machine.

3. Click Select Backup Disk (or Select Disk, or Add or Remove Backup Disk).

4. Select your external storage device from the list of available devices

5. Then select Encrypt Backups (recommended) and click Use as Back up Disk.

You may be prompted to erase the device first (for formatting purposes). Click Erase to proceed. This erases all information on the external storage device.

After you create a backup disk, Time Machine immediately begins making periodic backups automatically and without further action by you.

To start a backup manually, choose Back Up Now from the Time Machine menu on the menu bar.

Restoring your files using an external storage device

1. Make sure your Time Machine (external hard drive) is connected and turned on, then turn on your Mac.

If your Mac starts up to setup assistance that asks for details like your country, keyboard, and network, continue to Step 2.

If your Mac starts up to Finder, open Migration assistant by using the search function on the top right hand side of the screen. Migration Assistant is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. Click continue in the first Migration Assistant window, then continue to Step 2.

2. When you are asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer “from a Mac, Time Machine, or start up disk”.

3. Select your external storage device from the list of available disks, then click Use Disk.

4. Select the files and folders you want to restore.

5. Select the information transfer, then click Continue to start the transfer.

6. The transfer may take some time. When complete, restart your Mac and log in to the migrated account to see the files.

Backing up your files to the cloud

Before you begin:

  • Update your mobile device(s) or PC to the latest operating system
  • Set up cloud on all devices
  • If your devices cannot update to the latest Operating System, see the minimum system requirements to use the cloud-based software solution of your choice.

There are many cloud-based data backup tools that can make backing up and restoring as easy as clicking a button.

Some of the most popular cloud-based data backup software solutions are:

  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Microsoft OneDrive.

Backing up using Google Drive

1. Google Drive can be accessed via www.google.com by clicking the squares in the top right corner. If you are choosing to use Google Drive, you will need an account and to be logged in.

2. Click on the Settings cog in the top left hand corner of the Google Drive screen and then Get Backup and Sync Windows.

3. Follow the prompts to install Backup and Sync. You may need to log in for security reasons and click on the installbackupandsync.exe in your downloads folder to open the application.

4. Once installed click Get Started and follow Backup and Sync steps including which folders you want to keep synced on your computer and to Google Drive.

5. To access synced folders on your desktop click on the Google Drive icon.

Restoring your files using Google Drive

  • Open Google Drive
  • Select the Backup and Sync utility
  • Access and restore your files at any time.

1. Ensure your external storage device is plugged in. Click Start, then on the Settings cog icon.

2. Select Update & Security.

3. Click Backup in the left column.

4. Click +Add a drive in the new window.

5. Select your external storage device.

6. Select Automatically back up my files, then select More options.

7. Define when and which folders to back up, then select Back up now.

Restore your files from your external storage device

1. Click Start, then on the Settings cog icon.

2. Select Update & Security.

3. Click Backup in the left column. Ensure your external storage device is plugged in.

4. Scroll to bottom of window and select Restore files from a current back up.

5. Select the folders you want to restore.

Backing up your files to the cloud

Before you begin:

  • Update your mobile device(s) to the latest iOS, and your Mac to the latest macOS
  • Set up iCloud on all devices
  • Make sure you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all devices
  • If your devices can’t update to the latest iOS or macOS, see the minimum system requirements to use iCloud Drive.

1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences.

2. Select Apple ID.

3. Select Options next to iCloud Drive.

4. Click Desktop and Documents to back up your Mac to the cloud. Select your Mac cloud storage plan and click Next. Then click Done.

If this option is not available, and you want to add the files from your Mac Desktop and Documents folder to iCloud Drive, update your Mac to the latest macOS.

Restore your files from the cloud

Restoring your Mac using iCloud is easy. You can access your backed up files anytime. Simply:

  1. Go to Finder.
  2. Click on iCloud.
  3. Select the files you want to restore.

Backing up your files to the cloud on your iPhone

Before you begin:

  • Update your mobile device(s) to the latest iOS
  • Set up iCloud on all devices
  • Make sure you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all devices
  • If your devices can’t update to the latest iOS, see the minimum system requirements to use iCloud Drive.

1. Go to Settings > [your name].

2. Tap iCloud.

3.    Click the iCloud Drive toggle to turn on iCloud Drive.

4.    Access your iCloud Drive files in the Files app.