Comment 8: Do You Even Update?

The ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, Model Rule 1.1 Comment 8 requires, “To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer shall keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.” To that end, we have developed this regular series to develop the competence and skills necessary to responsibly choose and use the best technologies for your educational and professional lives. If you have any questions, concerns, or topics you would like to see discussed, please reach out to e.koltonski@csuohio.edu.

Fall is coming and there is a whole lot of “new” in the air. New classes are beginning. New textbooks need to be purchased. New syllabi and lectures are waiting to be finished. With all of this new it is easy to let some things slide, but one of those things is something that too many of us forget all year: updating our technology.

Why should I?

I’m not talking about buying new devices, though that is a potentially expensive way to do it. No, I’m talking about updating the operating systems and applications on the devices that you already own. Updating is often used synonymously with the term “patching,” which the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) defines as:

Patches are software and operating system (OS) updates that address security vulnerabilities within a program or product. Software vendors may choose to release updates to fix performance bugs, as well as to provide enhanced security features.

Basically, as CISA explains, you should update\patch because it will make you device run better and be more secure. Mostly. Sometimes a patch ends up causing a lot of problems, but the reality is that it is better to update than to not.

How do I?

Below are some links for updating several different operating systems. Updating software is slightly more complicated but not so much that we’d say it’s complex. Each software often has its instructions for updating. Those instructions can often be found on the manufacturer’s website.

Windows 10/11 Update Instructions

macOS Update Instructions

Debian-based Linux Distros (i.e. Ubuntu, Kali, and Zorin OS) Update Instructions [Terminal]

Android Device Update Instructions

iPhone and iPad Update Instructions

It’s a good idea to check for updates at least once a week. Fortunately, updating is typically pretty quick and doesn’t require much attention. You can patch your devices while reading a good book…or a textbook.