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Learn MoreOctober 27, 2011
Updating Your Phone & Downloading A Security App
Cupcake. Eclair. Gingerbread. Ice Cream Sandwich. All delicious treats in their own right, these sugary desserts have something else in common— they’re Android OS versions. Creativity aside, the importance of updating your smartphone to the latest version often gets overlooked by users who are unaware of the benefits. Whether they are iOS or Android, big or small, updates do much more than speed up your device or tweak your user interface. They often contain critical security patches that make sure your Android or iPhone doesn’t become a hacker’s playground.
Android updates are pushed to people over-the-air. You, the user, will see a notification on the home screen prompting you to accept the update. To check the success of an install or to update your Android manually, follow these 4 simple steps:1. Push the “Menu” button from the Home screen.
2. Touch the screen or use the navigator wheel to select the “Settings” option.
3. With the “Settings” menu, select the “About Phone” option that is found towards the bottom of the list.
4. Touch the “System Updates” option. This causes the phone to look for any new Android updates. If an update is available, the phone will download and install it. If your system is up-to-date, then it will tell you that as well.
With the release of iOS5, Apple has also instituted the over-the-air update process too. Yet if a user’s phone is running on an older operating system, iPhone users need to physically connect their device to their computers and follow these directions:
1. Verify that you are using the latest version of iTunes (before connecting your iOS device).
2. Select your iOS device when it appears in iTunes under Devices.
3. Select the Summary tab.
4. Click “Check for Update.”
Along with checking for software updates, downloading a mobile security app like Lookout is another crucial step in protecting your phone. Just as you protect your PC, you should protect your phone against malware and spyware. When you download new apps, shop online, browse social networks, or use your phone for banking, security apps like ours will be there to protect you. So do your small part, download a security app and make sure your smartphone is always running on the most up-to-date operating system.
© 2012 Lookout, Inc. All rights reserved. Patents pending.
When I saw this article, I immediately check if there’s an update for my LG Optimus Net. Wouldn’t you know there was a small update waiting. I immediately applied the update. Not sure though what the update is for but I bet it will fix some bugs and maybe some performance enhancement. It’s always a good habit to update your device software. Thanks again to Lookout for the complimentary 1 year subscription.
Of course updates are important… but with the carriers and vendors not creating them, everyone is left stranded. If it wasn’t for rooting, Android would not be worth it.