Home komputer users are regularly advised to install software updates to stay secure. Windows 10 Home Edition automatically downloads plus installs updates, restarting the komputer if needed. Automatic restarts can be managed through a number of features, such as ‘active hours’ (within which a komputer will not restart to complete an update) or by setting a time for restart. Applications active prior to a restart can register with the operating system, to automatically restart once updates have been installed. This research investigates if the features Microsoft provides for managing updates on Windows 10 Home Edition are appropriate for komputer owners. We build a jenis of Windows 10 update behaviour, identifying interaction points between update features plus users. We contrast theory with reality in a survey with 93 Windows 10 Home users, capturing experiences plus perceptions. While overall perceptions of updates were positive, the pattern of use of most participants was incompatible with the default ‘active hours’ settings (28% of participants knew of its existence). Participants were mostly unaware of quality (bug fix) updates, mostly perceiving that updates add features. Half of our participants reported unexpected restarts, while half also reported growing concern about the state of their device if an update took a long time. Those with previous negative update experiences had weaker beliefs about their ability to control updates than those who had not. To make the updates less disruptive, applications can request to be restarted by Windows after a reboot. Of the 47 commonly used applications which were tested, only two supported seamless continuation after a restart. Unsaved information were lost in 21 applications, plus 14 appeared to rely on internal autosave features to capture unsaved data, but did not completely restore User Interface arrangements. We recommend that operating systems obtain explicit permission for restarts, consistently; there are opportunities for features such as active hours plus update progress displays to learn from usage activity. At the same time, applications should be more resilient to restarts to reduce the burden on users to recover their activities.
Introduction
A key piece of information security advice given to users by both government organizations plus security practitioners is to install operating system plus software updates as soon as they become available. Doing so is seen as the way to eliminate vulnerabilities, towards creating a safer computing environment for the user, more so if done in a timely fashion. The concern is that while vulnerabilities remain they could be exploited by attackers, who may have ready access to tools that allow them to target users of digemari banyak orang operating systems indiscriminately.
Software producers have, in some cases, automated the update process, in an effort to make it easier for users to have up-to-date software. This approach is not without drawbacks; software that is downloading or installing updates has the potential to interrupt a user’s tasks. In terms of the risks of updates, if an update was to fail (or otherwise break existing functionality), it could cause prolonged or irreparable availability issues. Similarly, an update might change a familiar user interface or feature, putting the user in the unexpected situation of needing to relearn how to use some aspect(s) of their software. As user software portfolios grow over time, these costs plus risks grow proportionately with them.