Chapter 5. Patching and Updating Your System and Software

In This Chapter

• Keeping up with patches, updates, and service packs

• Preventing rootkits with regular updates

• Getting the goods from Redmond — Windows Update and Microsoft Update

• Knowing when you need a new system

• Patching and updating application software

Current software patches and updates are critical to resisting malware attacks, especially if you're running Windows. No way around it — you need these. Malware and rootkit authors use the problems that the patches and updates repair as ways to compromise those hapless computers left unpatched and un‐updated. Users who delay (or resist) getting the patches and updates may suddenly discover — way too late — that their computers are infected.