Updating Web Browsers

Authors: Franklin Hambrick & Joshua Wilbourn

Every day, websites are taking advantage of the new features modern web browsers provide. Web browsers like Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox lead the way in today’s cyber world. Whether you are working from home or heading back to the office, it is important to keep your internet browsers up to date. No matter what website you utilize, you want to be sure your browsers are being updated to patch any vulnerabilities.

But why and how? While it’s important to know how, it’s also important to know why, and even more importantly, the consequences that might occur if you don’t.

HTML5 video and audio, advanced JavaScript and CSS styling all rely on a modern web browser. If you do not use the latest version of your web browser, you are missing out on some features and potentially making your information vulnerable. More websites everyday have stopped supporting older version of browsers. Have you ever been to a website that looks awful? Chances are, the website looks great, it is just your web browser is outdated.

Here are some best practices on updating your web browsers.

If I do not update my web browser

Surfing the internet in today’s world without an updated web browser, is asking for your information to be comprised. Older, out of date web browsers have much less security than the newest updated ones. If you run a web browser that is out of date, it contains security vulnerabilities. Those vulnerabilities are known to criminals who will try to exploit them. Those exploits can lead to your computer being taken over and all your data falling into the hands of someone who may use for nefarious acts.

How do I update my web browser

Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome have an auto-update feature enabled by default. If you have not turned this off, chances are it is still enabled. If you want to double check to make sure:

1.      Mozilla Firefox – In the top right corner of your web browser, you have three horizontal lines. When you click that, it shows a drop-down menu. There is a selection called ‘Options’, select it. This will bring up the General page. Scroll down until you see Firefox Updates. You will see a box that states, Allow Firefox to automatically install updates, ensure it is checked. If you do not want to check it, you should go there weekly and check for updates to install.