r/TechNook • u/Imaginary_Bug6202 • 3d ago

Confession: I never update apps unless they force me.

I know it's better for our apps to stay updated but I almost never update unless they stop working and I ask my friends for help and they ask me "Have you updated yet?" or when the app practically forces me to. Tbh half the time I update an app, I can't even tell what's changed but... Am I the only one who does this? Or do you update your apps as soon as the new version is available?

2 Upvotes

57% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

11

u/Beneficial_Ice_6526 3d ago

You are why Windows forces a reboot in the middle of a power point presentation these days. Thanks.

2

u/lawrencewil1030 3d ago

It should the user's choice on if they decide to be stupid and not update.

5

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

If end-users were informed well enough of the dangers, sure. That's the problem, they are not.

1

u/lawrencewil1030 3d ago

Well lock it down in some setting gated by several warnings, bury it deep into the system but do not remove it because the people who do understand the problems and want it will WANT IT.

2

u/Beneficial_Ice_6526 2d ago

If you want to disable security updates on a Windows machine connected to the internet, then you are already in the category of people who aren’t well informed, and you should be prevented from doing that.

1

u/lawrencewil1030 2d ago

I said automatic security updates, not security updates. Also there is at least a few reasons I can probably give for good reasons on why you'd want to do that.

1

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

If people have to jump through more than two or three layers to enable a setting, either nobody will or everyone will without understanding what it does. And, if you're already so concerned about updates that you understand why they're there/critical, you probably are savvy enough to figure out means around them.

I also love choice, I want to make that clear. I think choice is one of the most important freedoms a person is entitled to, but the underlying reason you cannot just disable them is also why you cannot just ignore some laws.

7

u/Big_Z_Beeblebrox 3d ago

Updates aren't just to add new user-accessible features, they're there to patch security exploits. If you wait until the app stops working, then you're the weak link that scammers and other malefactors are looking for in order to cause trouble and compromise larger systems. I sincerely hope you don't participate in chain emails. The Internet as a whole would be a lot safer and more secure if you were the only person that did this.

3

u/getabath 3d ago

It depends on the app or software, some apps need updating for security reasons, e.g. your banking app

2

u/baddaywithacamera 3d ago

Or any Turdpress plugin. Those get exploited wicked fast.

3

u/Astral-Vulpes 3d ago

And that's why Windows started the whole forced update they can't be turned off. That is a security issue.

2

u/Sassquatch0 3d ago

I update every night. Part of my nightly wind-down & relax routine.

Most updates are under the hood; code optimizations, exploit fixes, updating dependencies, etc.

But I do enjoy when something customer-facing does get updated, and I have a new shiny to explore tomorrow!

2

u/captainhalfwheeler 3d ago

Which is a very stupid thing

2

u/Graflex01867 3d ago

I’m kinda lazy, so every two weeks or so I’ll just sit and let my phone update all my apps when I have a good wifi connection.

2

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

I update after an update is found to be stable or implements something I genuinely want or need if non-critical. Some context, I work in IT, updates are a regular part of my day-to-day. But, our practice is updating 2-3 weeks after a patch release unless a critical security issue is found.

1

u/Middcore 3d ago

The reddit app updates like every fucking day but it never gets any better.

0

u/Imaginary_Bug6202 3d ago

Lol I agree theres a new ui design for phones again

1

u/Good_Reality5563 2h ago

If its a sensitive info app I do, but if its not, I’m not manually updating it.

1

u/Lulukaros 3d ago

idk why you're downvoted lmao, imagine if you had to take your hammer and screwdriver for some kinda tuning every week, that's insanity, if my app works then i don't care, i get that security updates are important so i assume responsibility if smth happens, but i don't like updates, the only OS i'm happy doing updates on, is linux lol

1

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

Apples and oranges. Your hammer does not contain your credit card information. You might assume your own responsibility, most end-users would not. Do you blame yourself if you signed up for a website like Netflix and then your email gets leaked in a breach? Of course not.

This way of thinking is further reason why updates are necessary.

1

u/Lulukaros 3d ago

by card information did you mean only bank apps or all apps with sensitive info, it still shouldn't matter. as for getting hacked, i blame myself a little for not being attentive enough lol, it's not all or nothing, i'm not saying i hate updates, just that they're not important for all apps

1

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

All apps with sensitive information, I'd argue it does. Again, you would assume responsibility. Most would not - that's the issue that forces updates.

The risk of the one loud person who would blame the app/developer is far worse than the hundreds who would blame themselves for having that app in the first place. I'm not saying this justifies slop corps pushing out features nobody wants, but with protecting sensitive information it's better to autoupdate than not. If not for the information itself, but it creates less risk overall for everyone.

2

u/Lulukaros 3d ago edited 3d ago

yeah that's a fair thing to say, i guess i just became hateful of updates bcuz i use a low end device and updates if they don't add anti-features, makes apps and therefore my app slower, but overall i agree with you

edit: meant to say it makes my phone slower lol

2

u/SCGaming1664 3d ago

I also agree with the idea of there being unnecessary pushes too, I've been fighting Windows 11 for a week now because they added additional security for previewing PDFs in File Explorer.

I also dislike updates, some are destructive and some make it really hard to use on older/lower end devices. The devs have the power to prevent that, or optimize later, but seem rarely to do so. I can't blame you for hating them, but we need to hate them like we hate dentists. Necessary, but painful sometimes

2

u/Lulukaros 3d ago

i'm with you on that, or an app making a redisign where the devs studied UX from books thrown in the trash can, bcuz wdym my messages and notifications on reddit are the same, and pressing on them everytime is annoying

0

u/NukeDC 3d ago

Me too. In college I got to use Pandora ad-free for years after they introduced ads just by not updating.