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 and with the windows zero day attack is it safe it use windows XP update? do you need to protect your PC?
Microsoft has 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 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 abd now there is the windows XP zero day attack that works through windows XP support on your PC.
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.
Now, you ask, what exactly is Windows XP 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.
For a home desktop, even for a home network, windows updates really are that important. No one wants to get hacked or find their computer full of malware. Should you use a simple firewall, even the windows in-house firewall, you are protected from ony a few threats. Windows Updates cannot really help prevent all attacks, but they can prevent hackers, crackers, viruses and the like from entering their network computers from faults in the windows code or browser and at the moment windows update is safe from the new windows XP zero day attack.
So to answer the question – should I use windows update? the answer is yes. You should also download a system scanner to be safe to check your PC for malware and spyware that can get onto your PC without you knowing. Click here to scan your PC now.
