Many ransomware and spyware programs get into your computer by exploiting vulnerabilities in the operating system. One thing that can help protect your Windows system from malware is making sure that Windows Update is working and applying security updates and bug fixes from Microsoft.
Here are the best settings for Windows Update on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. (If you are still using Windows XP or Windows Vista, my advice is to upgrade to Windows 10. If your computer is too old to run Windows 10, seriously consider replacing it soon.)
Windows 10:
Microsoft has made Windows 10 to be fairly assertive about always installing Windows Updates, so if you do nothing, it will download and install updates on its own — even in the middle of the day. It’s a good idea to set it so that it does its updates and restarts when you’re not using the computer. Do this by setting your active hours, and also set Windows Update to finish updates when you’re not there to sign in. Here’s how:
Select the Start button, select Settings -> Update & security – > Windows Update
Click on the “Change active hours” link
Set the start and end times to reflect when you’re most likely to be using your computer
Click “Save”
Now click on “Advanced options”
Make sure the checkbox for “Use my sign in info to automatically finish…” is checked.
Windows 8.1:
The 8.1 update to Windows fixed a number of interface problems with Windows 8. Oddly, the update to 8.1 doesn’t come via Windows Update, but through the Windows Store. The procedure for doing this update can be found here. Then follow the procedure below.
On the keyboard, hold down the Windows key and “C” at the same time to open the sidebar on the right side of the screen
Click on “Settings”
At the bottom of the Settings panel, click on “Change PC Settings”
The PC Settings screen will open; In the left sidebar, click on “Update and Recovery”
In the Windows Update screen, selct “Choose how updates get installed”
The “Important updates” drop-down menu at the top has four options; pick one of the first three — my recommendation is “Download updates but let me choose whether to install them”
Check the boxes for “Recommended updates” and “Microsoft update”
Click “Apply”
Windows 7:
Microsoft release Windows 7 in 2009, and replaced it with Windows 8 in 2012, so as these things go, it’s getting a little old. However, it is still supported by Microsoft, and by nearly all software publishers, so there’s no immediate rush to upgrade. Here’s how to manage Windows Update:
Select Start->All Programs->Windows Update
Click on the “Change settings” link in the left sidebar
The “Important updates” drop-down menu at the top has four options; pick one of the first three — my recommendation is “Download updates but let me choose whether to install them”
Check the box for “Give me recommended updates the same way…”
Check the box for “Give me updates for Microsoft products…”
Click “OK”
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