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Keep your web browsers and operating system up to date.

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Your computer has lots of software on it to keep you productive and happily surfing the web. Most software developers release updates of their software on a regular basis that provide fixes to known problems, improve performance, and provide new functionality (most often in new releases). In general, it’s up to the user to decide if and when software should be updated or upgraded to a new release. NCSAGG recommends that you keep your software current.

However, there are two pieces of software that should always be set to automatically update (if the option is available) your web browserGG and operating system.

Web browser
Your web browser (InternetG Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) is the software that helps you navigate the web. Current web browsers do a great deal more than just display a requested web page. Most web browsers have significant functionality, controlled by the user, and provide additional protections to compliment security software. Software developers are constantly improving their software to make your web surfing safer and more secure and to address known vulnerabilities that hackers may try to exploit.  Keeping your browser up to date helps you avoid phishingGG scams and unsecure websites, and provides added privacyGG protections on the web.

Resources for Browsers

Internet Explorer 8
Download
Learn more

Internet Explorer 7
Download
Scan for updates

Firefox 3.0.7
Download
Learn more

Chrome
Download
Learn more 

Safari 4
Download
Learn more

Opera 9.6
Download
Learn more

Operating System
Your operating system (Windows XP, Windows Vista, MacGG OS X, etc.) is the software that allows all other software to work with your computer’s hardware. It is critical to keep your operating system up to date.  Software developers that create operating systems release frequent, and sometimes urgent, updates to keep you protected. Set your computer to download and install these updates automatically.

Resources for Operating Systems

Microsoft
Windows Vista
Scan for updates (this will direct you to the Microsoft page and open up the update monitor in your control panel)
Learn more

Windows XP
Download updates
Learn more

Macintosh
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
Download updates
Learn more