You may be aware that new medicines are continuously invented to counter new diseases. Similarly, the computer industry keeps updating the versions of antivirus software and similar products to counter new viruses, worms, and spyware. You need to keep you computer up-to-date with updated versions of security software to ensure better protection of your computer.
The Microsoft Windows Update Web site provides you with security updates that are necessary to protect your computer’s operating system. You can download these security updates from this Web site and install them on your computer. If you find it difficult to keep track of the security software that you need to update, you can automate this updating process by configuring your computer.
You can keep your computer up-to-date by downloading system updates and other security software from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. This Web site provides you with necessary security updates that help protect your computer from security threats. When you visit this Web site, Windows Update scans your computer and informs you about the updates that you can download and install on your computer.
The Microsoft Windows Update Web site lets you view the list of updates already downloaded on your computer. The Web site also provides you with answers to frequently asked questions or FAQs and the necessary help and support to solve problems related to Windows Updates.
To benefit from the latest security updates available on the Microsoft Windows Update Web site, you need not keep visiting the Web site. You can automate the process by configuring the settings in the Windows Security Center. The Automatic Updates option enables your computer to automatically download and install security updates from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site. This downloading process does not stop you from downloading other files and it does not interrupt your work. However, you may be prompted with a message if an update requires you to restart your computer. When you click the Automatic Updates link present in Windows Security Center, the Automatic Updates dialog box opens.
You can choose from the four options in the Automatic Update dialog box to decide when to download and install the security updates.
When you use the first option, the updates are automatically downloaded and installed on your computer at 3 a.m. everyday. You can change this time and frequency. Remember that your computer needs to be connected to the Internet at the specified time for the update to work.
When you use the second option, your computer downloads the updates automatically, but does not install the updates on your computer. Instead, you receive an alert after the updates are downloaded. You can install the desired updates as soon as you receive the alert, or at a time more convenient for you.
When you use the third option, your computer does not download and install security updates automatically. Instead, when an update is released, you receive an alert. You can then choose to download and install the desired updates at any convenient time.
If you select the fourth option, the updates are not downloaded or installed automatically and also you do not receive any alert when updates are available. It is recommended that you do not use this option because this may leave your computer vulnerable to security threats.
You can also use the Automatic Updates dialog box to visit the Microsoft Windows Update Web site by clicking the Windows Update Web site link.
After configuring the settings on the Automatic Update dialog box, you must save the changed settings by clicking OK. If your computer has additional security software, such as antivirus and antispyware installed on it, remember to follow the procedures to keep the software updated. In this demonstration, you learned about the options available to keep your computer automatically up-to-date with latest security software.
Summary of the procedure to be taken
1. To Achieve: Keeping the Computer Up-to-Date.
2. To open the Microsoft Windows Update Web site, click Start, point to All Programs, and then click the Windows Update.
3. Notice the links displayed under Options.
4. The Windows Security Center has been opened for you. To automatically download and install security updates on your computer, click the Automatic Updates link. The Automatic Updates dialog box opens.
5. Notice the four options in the Automatic Updates dialog box.
6. To automatically download and install security updates at a predefined time and frequency, click Automatic (recommended).
7. To receive an alert after security updates are automatically downloaded, click Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them.
8. To receive an alert when security updates are ready for down load, click Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them.
9. To turn off Automatic Updates, click Turn off Automatic Updates.
10. Notice the Windows Update Web site link available in the Automatic Updates dialog box.
11. Click OK to close the Automatic Updates dialog box.
