Bar Bytes

• Publication year: 2023
• Pages: 12

BAR BYTES Vol. 34 Issue 4 Pg. 12 South Carolina BAR Journal January, 2023

This is About Security (But We Hope You Read It Anyway)

By Courtney Troutman and Emily Worley.

While you may be tempted to throw your computer on a bonfire before you read another word about tech safety, it's a new year and a new chance to improve your security habits. We are honest people, so we'll say at the outset that this is not in any way a comprehensive list and we may occasionally generalize. We hope you never need to demonstrate your tech due diligence but here are some of our top tips.

Update, Update, Update

Future archaeologists will dig up tons of electronic devices and regale their students with how the software that ran them sometimes lasted no time at all. Your brand-new computer, phone, or tablet is a ticking security bomb without patches to the OS (operating system - commonly Windows, Apple, or Android) and the apps on it. (In case you're just tuning in, almost everything except the OS is now called an app - including your browsers.) Manufacturers and software designers release some updates and patches to enhance a product's functionality, but the majority of patches are for security. If you're faced with an update, you're not sure of, Google it. If the update isn't a security patch, you may be able to wait a few weeks to make sure no other users report "bugs." But if it's a security patch, install it.

Most computer makers support their operating systems for three to five years. One fun exception in history was wildly successful Windows XP. It rolled out in 2001 and the Pro version garnered security support until 2019! If you currently use Windows 10 (released in 2015), Microsoft will support it until October 14, 2025. The problem with end-of-life cycles is that many lawyers get behind purchasing new devices, so they may have a relatively new piece of hardware with an almost obsolete OS. If you've been putting off replacing your computer or phone, remember it's a due diligence fail if it's gotten too old to get security updates.

So, watch for updates and make sure to enable automatic updates in your settings. This goes for all your computer apps—from Zoom to Firefox. Some apps update directly through the OS settings, and some apps update individually through the app settings. If you aren't sure, peruse your list of apps. Updates might be listed under Settings, Help, or About. Don't be too proud to Google how to update.

But wait...