It’s no secret that countless numbers of people use the web every single day. They utilize browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge (previously Explorer), Firefox, and Safari to view websites of all shapes and sizes with a large variety of functionalities.

What some web-surfers might not realize however is how much the technology behind the scenes advances every single day. Websites are often updated to newer and newer versions of languages and interfaces as each piece of technology is improved upon by programmers behind the scenes. Because of this, you never know what issues you might run into as far as loading pages correctly, playing media, viewing files, or protecting yourself from malicious software.

This is why keeping your web browser updated is one of the most vital steps you can take to make for a smooth and secure browsing experience. 

Primarily, the security focus should be your main concern. As these platforms and technologies have grown in popularity so too have they attracted individuals who wish to exploit at-risk site-goers. Fortunately, the companies behind major browsers work hard to stay a step ahead of these exploits, often pushing updates just to mend gaps in their security. Updating your browser not only allows you to add the latest security measures, but modern browsers have also gotten much better at detecting threats and blocking annoying popups. 

Neglecting to update can lead to your browser being manipulated to extract information from you like your search history or even more sensitive information. It can even render your browser unusable completely. There have even been past instances where people could gain access to your computer’s operating system, potentially causing all kinds of mischief which can lead to serious setbacks for your machine. Computer viruses definitely aren’t as bad as they used to be thanks to browser security, but it’s still well worth your while to keep the main touch point between your machine and the wider internet as protected as possible.

Another important reason to update is to keep up with website technology. If you think about how websites work with browsers, you begin to understand that the browser’s job is to interpret the language of the website. If the website is ahead of the curve with the latest internet features, and the browser doesn’t understand all the “new lingo” it will fail in properly interpreting the message and will leave gaps in the logic. This can result in errors, missing elements, and sometimes just make a website look downright ugly. Keeping your browser updated ensures that you are seeing a website the way it was meant to be seen and makes sure you aren’t left guessing whether you’re looking at a corrupted web page or not. 

Updating is also not just about being able to interpret the website’s data but also improves how well and how fast it can be interpreted. Some updates to technology include methods of slimming down the lingo, simplifying messages to reach more efficient loading speeds, or just more efficient ways of interpreting information. Your web browser version can have a large impact on how efficiently websites load and, in turn, how fast you can navigate and interact with the internet. 

Fortunately, with the advancement of browser technology, the methods of updating your browser have also never been easier. Google Chrome will do the updating for you each time you get on. Firefox and Safari will hit you with reminders if there is a new update available, and Edge’s updates are tied to updating Windows, so automatic updates for your Windows device will also make sure you automatically get the latest and greatest version of Edge. 

We know it can be easy to quickly click the X every time you get a pesky notification from your internet browser or operating system, but consider the many benefits of keeping your browser up to date. Doing so pays off with speed, security, and a peace of mind that you are getting the best internet browsing experience possible.