Plug In to Plugins.

One of the most common vectors of malware infection is through outdated and exploitable plugins. Java remains a constant reminder that a plugin that is fully updated and a plugin that is exploitable can be one and the same.

But what is a plugin? Plugins or plug-ins (either way is correct) are small pieces of software that are often used to preform a helpful task or allow you to view something. For example, several video viewing websites such as YouTube use Adobe Flash to allow you to view the videos on the website. This involves installing Adobe Flash, which also involves installing an Adobe Flash plugin on your browser. Without the plugin, you would not be able to view the videos.

So, now that we have covered to some extent what a plugin is, why is it important to keep it updated?

Outdated plugins are bad for a few reasons. They can interrupt your internet browsing and waste your time, they can increase your risk of getting infected with malware, and they do not have improvements that the latest version of the plugin has that can make the internet safer and/or faster.

Odds are, you have a plugin that you need to update. Don't believe me? Take a look. How do you check your plugins you ask? Well first, you need to see what the latest version of the software or plugin is. This can be done by going to the official website of the plugin or the software that installed the plugin. If you need to update, the official website is always the safest place to update. So if you are already there, it makes updating what you need to update hassle free.

On Internet Explorer: Click on Tools, then click manage add-ons. (Internet Explorer calls plugins add-ons, but they are the same thing with Internet Explorer.) Check the version of the plugin by clicking on it. You can repeat this for all the plugins you have installed.

On Mozilla Firefox: At the top left corner of the window, you will see an orange button that says Firefox. Click on that, then click on Add-ons, then when the new tab pops open, click on plugins from the menu on the left. Then click on check to see if your plugins are up to date. If they are not, Firefox provides links so that you can safely update your plugins.

Thank You for reading, hopefully this blog post has helped you answer questions you may have had about plugins. As always, I invite readers to comment below with any questions or comments.