Ah, Web Browsers. Those wonderful pieces of software that let us, well, browse the web to our heart’s content. There are a variety of browsers out there to choose from (although we have sadly lost the legendary Internet Explorer recently), each coming with their own benefits and drawbacks. Being a tool used by many, it is important that you keep your web browser up to date, not just to get the latest features, but also to keep your device secure and have easier compatibility with webpages.
Updating Adds New Features
New features being added are at the forefront of everyone’s mind whenever programs or applications get updated. It is quite fun to see what exciting functionality is added to your favorite web browser. Not only that, but updates may improve the web browser’s efficiency and possibly make it easier or more intuitive to use. As technology develops, “your web browser needs to be updated so that it is able to use those new features” introduced by these innovations (WhatIsMyBrowser).
Updating Improves Security
More importantly, however, is that updating improves the security of your web browser. Our browsers are “… our literal window into important tasks like managing our finances, making payments, and so forth, hackers will absolutely target browsers in order to conduct their attacks” (McAfee). These hackers tirelessly look for vulnerabilities or bugs in various web browsers that they can exploit. As McAfee simply states, “where there’s code, there’s room for error”, and web browsers are no exception.
Even if you rarely use your web browser, it is still important to keep it up to date. Vulnerabilities in your web browser can, as stated before, allow hackers a way to put malware onto your device. Once this malware “gets installed on your computer, then that malware can open your computer up” to more threats and dangers (WhatIsMyBrowser).
As WhatIsMyBrowser explains, “the mere act of viewing a website (or an ad embedded in a website) is enough to load dangerous software on to your computer”. Keeping your browser updated can, in some cases, prevent such things from occurring. Some browsers, like Google Chrome (LINK which you can install here), will block you from connecting to malicious websites to prevent you from getting a virus (Google).
Updating Provides Better Compatibility
Finally, some websites may be optimized for the latest version(s) of popular web browsers. This can cause issues when you try to use an old browser to access a “new” website; “a bug in your web browser … [can stop] something [from] working on a website” (WhatIsMyBrowser). Thus, by keeping your browser updated, you can prevent any such issues from occurring.
In Conclusion
Keep your browser updated!
Set up your browser to update automatically. This is relatively straightforward, and browser developers have pages that show you how it’s done. For example, sampling a few of the browsers out there:
MacAfee
Works Cited & Further Reading
Google. “Manage Warnings about Unsafe Sites – Computer.” Google Chrome Help, Google, https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/99020.
McAfee. “The Big Reason Why You Should Update Your Browser (and How to Do It).” McAfee Blog, McAfee LLC, 24 Mar. 2022, https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/why-you-should-update-your-browser/.
WhatIsMyBrowser. “What Happens If You Don’t Update Your Browser?” WhatIsMyBrowser.com, 18 Feb. 2022, https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-update-your-browser/faq/what-happens-if-dont-update.
The H.A.C.K.E.R. Project 
Leave a comment