Firmware updates can be annoying as they distract you from important tasks, but they shouldn't be ignored or put off until later. Portal makeuseof.com speakwhy it is recommended to update the firmware of gadgets and which updates cannot be skipped.
Most people delay updating various devices because they underestimate the risks and overestimate the inconvenience. We see the “Update” button, but we don't click it—for weeks, months. Of course, sometimes it makes sense to wait. New versions of iOS and Android can crash, drain battery, or crash the apps a person uses; in this case, you can actually wait a few weeks for other users to figure out all the problems.
However, firmware updates are a little different. They didn't add new emojis or change the design of the settings menu. Such updates often close security holes exploited by attackers. So, downloading updates for some devices should not be delayed.
Modem and router
The router is probably the most forgotten device in your home, but it's also the only thing separating every device you own from the Internet. Every smart TV, smartphone, laptop, and smart speaker is connected through the router. If it suddenly gets hacked then your device will be at risk.
Router firmware often includes important security enhancements. Some manufacturers automatically download the latest patches to the router, but many others do not. Therefore, the responsibility for checking for updates lies with the user: periodically it is recommended to visit the router page through the browser and check manually.
NSA equipment
A NAS (network attached storage) is essentially a small computer filled with hard drives. They are used for a variety of purposes: from private cloud storage to storing photo backups, organizing media servers, or sharing business files. And the fact that there are so many files stored on NAS makes them an attractive target for ransomware.
Therefore, QNAP, one of the famous brands, recently patched seven zero-day vulnerabilities that were successfully exploited at the hackathon. Furthermore, these are not theoretical risks; Researchers have demonstrated attacks that can take control of a device. A year ago, the company fixed similar critical bugs, including command injection and SQL, allowing remote code execution.
If you use a NAS, firmware updates are always planned. Even if you don't want to do them manually. Turn on automatic updates if possible and periodically check for protection updates from the manufacturer.
SSD drive
The vast majority of people don't think about SSD software at all. Unlike routers or NAS, SSD firmware doesn't have any obvious security implications. But bugs in the firmware can affect performance, wear and most importantly, data integrity.
For example, Samsung's SSD line had a bug that caused the drives to report rapid drive degradation even under normal load. Some show reductions from 100% to 70% in just a few weeks. But then the manufacturer released an update that prevented the abnormal degradation; however, it cannot undo the damage that has already been recorded.
Cases like this are not unique to Samsung. Crucial, Western Digital, and other manufacturers also periodically release important firmware updates. Therefore, it makes sense to check the brand's official website from time to time for news updates.
Smart TV
Smart TVs run a full operating system, connect to the Internet, and are often equipped with cameras and microphones. But for some reason people don't consider them computers that need security updates.
There are many examples of smart TV vulnerabilities. Sony Bravia has a serious remote code execution vulnerability that the manufacturer must quickly fix. LG's webOS allows you to bypass authentication and gain full control over the device over a local network.
It should be noted that updates to such TVs sometimes cause problems. There are documented cases where firmware updates have damaged image quality or made applications unstable. It's not a pleasant experience, but the security improvements often outweigh those risks.
