How to do a software update on my devices
A vital part of helping you stay as safe as possible from becoming a victim to online fraud or cybercrime is keeping your devices and the software running on them up-to-date.
What is a software update?
Good online security practice is essential in this day and age. Instances of online crime and fraud are unfortunately more commonplace now than ever before, so it’s never been more important to focus on your online security. A vital part of helping you stay as safe as possible from becoming a victim to online fraud or cybercrime is keeping your devices and the software running on them up-to-date.
Why are software updates important?
It’s easy to hit cancel or postpone when those pesky system updates pop up on your phone, but a lot of the time they can solve problems you may be having with your device and often give you a better mobile experience. They also play an important part in keeping your devices safe and secure against online threats.
The software on your phone isn’t always perfect and sometimes there are unforeseen bugs or faults that appear, or even holes in the software’s security that malware (malicious software) can exploit to get to your personal information. System updates often contain security patches to prevent people from hacking your devices and getting to your information or software fixes that tackle and sort potential bugs or problems. The same is true with your apps so it’s important to keep them updated in the Apple App store and Google Play Store as sometimes they need updating manually.
If you’re worried about your smartphone’s security check out Virgin Media Internet Security, which as a Virgin Mobile customer, you’ll pay nothing for 3 months, then just £3 a month (or £30 a year).
For more information on protecting yourself online, visit our guides on online safety guides.
It’s not all doom and gloom though. Updates can implement new features making things easier to use and more fun. They can also remove obsolete features that can impact your phone’s performance. Updates can also revamp your phone’s theme and appearance, giving your device a fancy new look or layout.
These software patches can also help your phone perform better. They can contain updates so your mobile will manage your data better, run more efficiently to level up your performance, or optimise your phone’s processing capabilities.
So even though they can be a bit of a nuisance, it’s worth taking the time to complete your phone’s system updates to get the most out of your mobile and keep you connected to the things that matter.
In short, here’s how you can get the most out of your device by keeping on top of your system updates:
Interface and appearance
Performance, heating, storage optimisation
Bug fixes and problem solutions
Security patches and updates
Upgrade apps and remove old features
To check whether there is an update available for your phone, have a look at our interactive device page where there are instructions on where to look within settings.
To summarise, updating the software on your devices has these main benefits:
Interference and appearance
Performance, heating and storage optimisation
Bug fixes and problem solutions
Security patches and updates
Upgrades apps and removes old features
How to Update your web browser
As more and more of what we do involves using a web browser, they are increasingly becoming the main way malicious third parties attempt to commit abusive acts such as installing malware on your device or stealing personal data. Developers of web browsers often release updates to their software to guard against possible risks.–In order to take advantage of this it’s important that you regularly install any updates. Luckily, this isn’t a complicated process.
Note: This article is intended to provide advice and is provided as a courtesy. Virgin Media is not responsible for any issues encountered in the course of resolving the issue and is not able to provide any technical support for such problems.
For details on updating Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or Edge web browsers, open the Windows Update application from the programs menu. If an update is available it will be listed on-screen and an option to update it will be offered.
For details on updating the Chrome web browser to the latest version, please follow this step-by-step guide from Google.
For details on updating the Firefox web browser to the latest version, please follow this step-by-step guide from Mozilla.
For details on updating the Safari web browser, please visit Apple’s support page.
How to update your operating system
It is extremely important that you keep all your operating systems up-to-date so that you benefit from any vulnerabilities identified by the developer. Failing to do so potentially exposes your devices to being controlled by unauthorised third parties and your personal information being compromised.
To update your operating system to the latest version, or to check if your system is already up-to-date, we recommend you follow the instructions on Microsoft’s support pages*.
If your computer is running Windows Vista, XP or older, we strongly recommend that you upgrade to a newer operating system as your version is no longer supported by Microsoft, which may make it vulnerable to security issues.
To update your Mac to the latest version of its operating system, or to check if it’s already up-to-date, we recommend you follow the advice listed on Apple’s website*.
Updating your Linux operating system to the latest version varies depending on the distribution you are using. If you are using an Ubuntu, Debian or Linux Mint based distribution, the below Terminal commands should work providing you have ‘sudo’ access on the account you’re running the command on*.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get upgrade
If the above commands don’t apply for your Linux distribution, we recommend you refer to your distribution’s documentation, which should list advice on how you can update your system to the latest version.
Methods for updating your Android phone or tablet vary depending on the make and model of your device. In most cases you can update to the latest versions of the operating system by going into the Settings menu for your device and finding an option to Update.
If you are unable to find an option in the settings, we recommend your refer to the manual for your device or visit the manufacturer’s website.
To update your iPhone or iPad to the latest version of its operating system, or to check if it’s already up-to-date, we recommend you follow the advice listed on Apple’s website.
These days, more and more devices are connected to the Internet, from Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems and streaming set-top boxes to coffee machines and light switches. All of these systems run operating systems that may be vulnerable to security issues if they are not kept up-to-date.
To find out how to update your in-home smart devices, please refer to the device’s manual or online help guide for instructions specific to your device.
How to update my Virgin Media hub?
For information on how to update the Virgin Media hub to the latest settings, check out our dedicated Hub settings advice. We’ve also got tips on how to reset the Hub.
How to update installed software
Software applications may have vulnerabilities in their code that can be exploited by a third party in order to perform malicious attacks as well as compromising personal information. Software developers often fix vulnerabilities in their applications but in order for your devices to benefit from any fix, you need to update the application to the latest version. Most applications will alert you when an update is available; updating your software as soon as an update is available is a major step towards taking full control of your online security.
Further advice regarding security issues including what to do if you’ve been the victim of online fraud or cybercrime, please visit our security hub.