Did you know that every gadget in your house is running software? Even devices like your modem and router have a small amount of software stored on chips inside the device. Even devices inside your computer, such as the hard drive, have software to control its operation. This software, known as firmware, tells the device how to function and communicate with other devices. Like any software, the firmware for your devices needs to be updated. Firmware updates can be released to fix bugs that limit the device's capability or to patch security holes.
When should you update your firmware? It is definitely necessary if a security vulnerability has been found in your device. The Heartbleed bug discovered last year affected many routers, and firmware updates were necessary to fix the vulnerability. It is also a good idea if a device is malfunctioning: the problem might be a firmware issue that has already been fixed with an update.
If everything is working fine and you don't know about any security issues, then it is probably best to leave your firmware alone. The main features of a device will have been tested extensively before the device is released, so it is likely that updates will fix bugs that only affect a small percentage of users.
If you think that a firmware update might be necessary, check the manufacturer's website for the latest firmware and instructions on how to update. The process will be different for each type of device and even for each manufacturer.
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