We all do it. At some point during our day, we will probably be reminded that it’s time for a software update. This always happens at the worst possible time, like in the middle of an important project, during a meeting, or when trying to use your phone on a break. Most of us just hit that forever-friendly “Remind Me Later” button and go on with the rest of our digital day, forgetting there was even an update. That is, until the next terribly timed notification reminds us with another option to “Remind Me Later,” and so the cycle continues…. creating a reflex to ignore the update prompts. This may create more of an issue than you realize though, and there is a good reason these things are asking to update (it’s not just to ruin your day).
There are several reasons developers release updates for their products. These can range from fixing a button, to patching a major security vulnerability. This is why major Endpoint Security providers like Norton and McAfee request you update all software regularly. Unfortunately, in the digital age, it has become a game of exploiting security vulnerabilities and patching them to make sure any personal data that is stored in the app is secure. With that said, you need to make sure it has the latest security updates.
The other big reason to run updates regularly is usability. It is often the case that features are added or fixed in an update. By skipping or ignoring updates, you could be missing out on a revolutionary new feature that will change how you use the app. An update might just fix the annoying button that never works when you click it. And if a new application comes out and your device is not running the newest version of its operating system, you might not be able to use the app at all!
I understand that some people just don’t want to hit the “Update” button and walk away. Sometimes an app update will break another piece of software or change how you normally do things. For those of us who like to exhibit more control over this process, there are almost always patch/release notes. This is, quite simply, a list of notes released by the developer to let you know what this patch will do. Here is an example of patch notes from Apple. This lets you pick and choose features and updates you want while not ignoring the security updates you could require. Hopefully now you can see that just hitting “Remind Me Later” on updates until something breaks is not the best option for you or your device.