Update 101
A small software fix that seals a security hole, named after the thing you'd sew onto ripped jeans.
Arguably the most dangerous button in computing, clicked by millions of people every single day.
Remind Me Later
The ideal time to let your phone update itself, so it never interrupts you.
Overnight
A flashing website popup insisting your video player is dangerously out of date is almost always this.
Scam
IT asks everyone to restart by Friday. The correct answer is this, and it takes four minutes.
Restart by Friday
The mildly annoying step required after most updates before they actually take effect.
Restart/Reboot
"I don't have time." Best fix: start the update at this point in your day so the restart costs you nothing.
Before You Leave (End of Day)
The two official places your phone's apps should get updates from.
App Store and Google Play
The only trustworthy places to get an update: not an email, not a popup, but these.
Settings/App Store
You've had 38 pending updates for three weeks. The risk you're carrying is best described as this.
Known Problems Left Wide Open
When a company stops releasing security updates for a product forever, it has reached this "end of" something.
End of Support
"What if it breaks something?" Do this one thing first and a failed update becomes an inconvenience, not a disaster.
Back Up Your Files
Doorbells, TVs, thermostats, baby monitors: this category of gadget needs patches too, and nobody ever gives them any.
Smart Home Devices
Malware dressed up as helpful software borrows its name from this gift left outside Troy.
Back from two weeks of vacation, laptop's been off. Do this before you open your email.
Install Pending Updates
Flip this one setting and your device updates itself without relying on your memory.
Automatic Updates
"My laptop is already slow." Ironically, updates often include these two non-security improvements.
Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
The box blinking in your hallway that runs your whole home internet and hasn't been updated since you bought it.
Your Router
"Your PC is infected — call this number immediately!" is the opening line of this scam genre.
Tech Support Scam
You clicked something sketchy and feel embarrassed. The genuinely correct move is this.
Tell the security team right away
A hole attackers are already exploiting before any patch exists is named after this number of days.
Zero-day
"I have 40 tabs open, I can't restart." This browser feature has made that excuse obsolete for years.
Restore Previous Session
Turn this on once and you'll win at cybersecurity while asleep.
Automatic Updates
Your "IT department" emails you an urgent update link. Before clicking, do this.
Verify with IT
Your favorite app says it no longer supports your phone's operating system. This is the real message underneath.
Your phone is no longer getting security updates — time to upgrade