Apparently, Microsoft has flipped on when to install Windows Updates and is now recommending they be installed as soon as possible.
As we reported earlier, in an obvious attempt to appease users who are fed up with buggy updates, Microsoft has recently added a new setting for Windows Updates that allows users to pause updates for extended periods.
Now, in direct contradiction to that new feature, Microsoft is advising users to install Windows Updates as soon as possible. Why? Simply put… AI.
Hackers Adopting AI
AI is providing a means for hackers to detect and exploit security vulnerabilities at a rate that was previously unheard of. As soon as a security vulnerability is identified, AI can help hackers analyze the flaw and develop an exploit within a matter of hours. Hence Microsoft’s backflip.
Many users have adopted a strategy to help overcome buggy updates, whereby they postpone the installation of updates for up to several weeks so they can wait and see whether the updates cause issues.
Microsoft is now saying that it is not a prudent practice and that vulnerability patches, which form an integral part of Windows Updates, need to be applied as soon as possible.
Hey Microsoft: Why you can’t simply provide security patches as a completely separate update is beyond me. Users could then install those patches immediately while still pausing other non-essential updates.
BOTTOM LINE:
Microsoft’s current advice on this matter does make sense. However, I believe it’s more of a concern for enterprise users. Attackers tend to target wealthy corporations rather than us humble home users.
I know for sure that targeting me, for example, would not reap hackers any substantial benefits. Besides, I employ an effective backup strategy, including system image backups.
I’ll often pause updates for a week or two to be on the safe side. How about you, do you tend to pause updates?
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Thanks Jim
Yes totally agree if you play the odds you are far more likely to have an issue installing Microsoft updates than being unfortunate enough to get randomly hacked by some drive-by malware from Russian/Chinese/North Korean hackers. Of course if you venture off the safe, well-trodden internet paths into dark arts dodgy sites you are far more likely to encounter something nasty embedded in a web page than simply by visiting ABC.com.au for example where you are more likely to encounter leftist propaganda than malware !
Of course nothing beats a good regular image backup done at least weekly as it amazing how many changes I find I can make to my PC and data generally in that short time. Other users’ mileages may vary. I try to point anything with readily saveable data (accounts and database for example) to save onto Dropbox rather than on the local PC so even if I should forget to backup the PC my data is still as safe as it can be up in the Cloud managed by a reputable service. In fact as most of us know, it is only our data that is really important and not the program software itself as that can always easily be re-installed and the related data re-loaded into the applicable program again if safely saved somewhere else.
And as to why Microsoft can’t issue security patches Jim separate to its generally annoying cosmetic updates is beyond anyone’s comprehension. “Redmond – stupid is as stupid does”….!
Cheers
Reg
Hi Jim. I continue using WAU, pausing Windows updates for several weeks. Will check it monthly just in case WAU does not post any updates, Mindblower!