Vulnerabilities of outdated operating systems
Keeping your computer’s operating system up to date is rudimentary to keeping your system secure. Why? Whether your computer is built around a Windows, Mac, Unix, or Linux-based operating system (OS), the developers of the operating system, whether maintained commercially or through open source communities, try to improve the capabilities, features, and most important system security. When a manufacturer releases a new operating system, they are not just looking to profit from a new product, they are striving to produce and distribute a better product. In fact, the latest trend of the past year in commercial operating systems released by the major corporations in the industry (ie Apple and Microsoft) is to give consumers FREE upgrades to the latest operating system. This means that the corporations are not even profiting from the distribution of their latest system. So why not upgrade your computers’ operating systems when there are no financial costs involved?
Going back to why developers change operating systems on a regular and ongoing basis; while it is all about business, only a fraction is about profit. One of the biggest advantages of a free market is that companies will compete to produce a better and more desirable product. While competing to improve products, in this case operating systems, developers strive to improve virtually every aspect of a system, including but not limited to security features. This is not an article about economics, but about why users should focus on the benefits of upgrading computer operating systems, rather than the drawbacks, and how upgrading the operating system can improve computer and data security. of the user who stores.
Users have often kept computers running the same operating system (usually the operating system pre-installed when the computer was purchased) for years and even decades. Non-technical users will be hesitant to update the operating system to avoid making changes that could harm the computer or worse, rearrange the desktop, menus, and toolbars in such a way that it is difficult for the user to navigate or use. We get it, change is scary. When desktops and menus change their appearance and options are relocated, it can be difficult to adjust to the new design. However, if a user can get past the temporary inconvenience of navigating a new operating system, he will experience the conveniences and guarantees that come with upgrading.
Over a period of time, the number of exploits on any (and every) type of operating system will increase thanks to penetration testers, hackers, and malware developers. The truth of the matter is that the longer a system is in circulation, the longer programmers have been trying to exploit it through hacks, cracks, malware, and other tricks. It’s an endless game of breaching and patching a system to make it more secure. The problem with legacy operating systems (note that the word legacy is intended to describe a product that is no longer supported by the manufacturer) is that newly discovered vulnerabilities in the system will never be patched or protected. Security vulnerabilities may allow attackers and/or malware to bypass network protocols, execute remote code, increase access privileges to system files and programs, disclose or collect user profile information, corrupt drivers, or system files, cause a denial of service, and perform other activities. that could harm the user, the system and/or the application(s).
When an operating system reaches its manufacturer’s end-of-life date, no further resources or support will be available to maintain the retired system. The manufacturer will invest its resources in a new system or product. Therefore, when a manufacturer recalls a system, so should users. Users who keep their computer operating systems up to date will have access to multiple types of vulnerability patches, including:
- Definition updates. Definitions added to system databases are used to detect malicious code, phishing websites, and/or spam.
- Security updates. An update will include a patch or fix for a product-specific security-related vulnerability.
- Service packs (Windows only). A service pack consists of a batch of cumulative fixes, security updates, critical updates, and non-critical updates.
A computer running a supported operating system can access the latest security definitions/updates and service packs tested and released by developers. Users who do not update their end-of-life computer operating systems are leaving their computers and data at risk of being compromised.