The Anti-virus Times

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Among our recommendations on how users can enhance their security in the digital world, our advice to install all available updates and patches to close vulnerabilities is one readers frequently come across. Using this occasion, we want to note once again that you absolutely need to do this. If, for any reason, you are not paying enough attention to this issue, you must correct this omission as soon as possible.

However, today we will talk not about updates themselves, but about what can follow them. If you have not yet guessed, we are going to talk about... the request to restart a computer after patches have been installed. This process may not seem important to users. If you have already installed an update, your computer is protected, the program has received the most current features, and rebooting can wait, right? Why is it necessary? As a result, some agree to restart a system immediately, and some wait until the last minute, continuing to use their PC as if nothing has happened. What’s the right way to do things? Let's get to the bottom of this question.

First, let's name the main types of updates that you can come across. This could be an update of both the operating system and third-party applications. They, in turn, are divided into updates for critical modules (most drivers, libraries, and executable file processes constantly running in the RAM) and updates for general level modules with a simpler The latter includes, for example, help files, multimedia components, non-critical executable files, etc. Their main difference is how far they are integrated into the operating system.

For example, lower priority modules can be updated "on the fly", and a reboot is not required to replace them. This is true for many applications that can be started and closed at any time—graphic editors, file managers, music players, etc. In this case, as a rule, it is sufficient to temporarily close the application, and then an update will replace the necessary components and the program will be ready for operation.

At the same time, critical modules almost always work in close cooperation with the system kernel. Their reliable and correct operation depends on a variety of other operating system components. For example, if we want to update a critical Windows system module that is already running, the system will simply not allow us to do this because such action could potentially violate its integrity, and it could abnormally terminate its operation. Accordingly, such a module can only be updated correctly when it has not yet started its work—namely, when a system is booting up. It is for just such cases that you need to restart your computer. By carrying this out, you are allowing new components to successfully replace old ones, and you are also giving them the chance to run properly.

It is important to remember that until a reboot has occurred, a system in most cases won't be able to correctly apply updates for critical components. Thus, if an update has closed, for example, a certain dangerous vulnerability, it is likely that you will still not be protected without a system reboot: after all, your system may still contain the active, old—vulnerable—version of the module. But, you may falsely believe that you are already protected because you "officially" installed an update. And, if you postpone rebooting over and over again, you can forget about it entirely, and that will expose you to greater danger. In addition, there exists a trivial risk in that, when you do an update, certain system components will simply become unstable—due to the fact that necessary changes in the system configuration have not been applied in full. Therefore, if you do not restart your PC, you may encounter errors in program operation, and "pseudo-programmers" who "produce a low-quality product" may be the unwitting culprit in your eyes. As a result, your day is ruined and the reputation of the developers is battered, although all you had to do was restart your system.

All of the information mentioned above can be projected to critical modules of many third-party programs, such as video adapter drivers and other hardware, anti-viruses, firewalls, etc. Thus, Dr.Web Anti-virus includes a variety of components that work at the system level, and a restart is required for them to update correctly.

#security #Dr.Web_settings #anti-virus_updates