Software Updates Tip Sheet
Make Life Difficult for Cybercriminals!
You don’t have to make life easy for cybercriminals – and you don’t have to be tech savvy to adopt the behaviors that make their jobs tough. They log off empty-handed, and you can enjoy the internet and all the scrolling, shopping, and clicking you can handle!
We present to you a few real scammers. While some of them have been arrested, more are following in their footsteps, and we want you to make their lives difficult.
Meet Cozy Bear
Roar back with software updates
Cozy Bear, a cybercriminal organization backed by Russia, stays in business by constantly hunting for outdated and unpatched software. Sometimes, the hunt is simple – the moment a company releases a software update, they study it to see what vulnerabilities it fixes. Then they peek around the web for companies and people who haven’t installed it yet. In a way, they get a how-to guide for infecting your machine. Every day you click “Remind Me Later” for an update is another day Cozy Bear hopes you’re vulnerable... and they want to make your life a lot less cozy.
DON’T MAKE LIFE EASY FOR COZY BEAR
- Turn on automatic updates whenever possible
- Check regularly that operating systems, browsers, apps, and devices are updated
- Restart devices when updates require it
Updates don’t just add features. They are full of Bear repellent. Most operating system updates take 5 minutes or less, even including restarting your device. Just do it when prompted, enjoy the little break, and don’t make it easy for them!