Welcome to "Browser Installs and Updates." After watching this video, you will be able to: Identify how to obtain web browsers and understand the need for web browser updates. So, how do you obtain a web browser? Well, there are really two options; it will either be provided as part of an operating system, as is the case with Microsoft Edge on the Windows operating system, Safari on Apple devices, and Samsung Internet on Android devices. Alternatively, and, in addition, you can download a web browser from a vendor’s website or app store; but of course, for that you will first need a web browser to initially browse to the site or store. There is a huge amount of debate about which browser is better than the other, which is more secure than the other, which performs faster than the other, and so on. But as these web browsers are all free to obtain and use, you are also free to make your own decision about which one, or more, best suits your needs. So, there is absolutely nothing wrong, or uncommon, with having several different web browsers installed and running on your device. In any case, you will likely be asked by the operating system at some point to define your ‘default’ browser, and this is the one the operating system will automatically use when you click a link in an app or an email, for example. You are probably already aware that it is important to keep your operating system and software applications up to date. Well, the same is true for your web browsers, too. Here are some key reasons for keeping your web browsers updated: Compatibility with websites – As new web-based technologies emerge, websites start to use them and therefore web browsers need to be improved and updated to support those new technologies. Any older versions of browsers that have not been updated may not be able to display or use some areas or features of a website. Security – If you don’t keep your web browser updated to its latest version it can lead to security vulnerabilities that expose your browser to the possibility of being compromised by some form of malicious software attack such as a virus, keylogger, or spyware. These attacks can lead to the leakage of personal and/or financial information. New features – As developers add new or improved features to their browser software or just generally improve its performance, your web browsers need to be updated to gain the benefits those improvements provide. Most of the top desktop web browsers provide standard fast-release updates at the same release rate, which typically releases major updates every four weeks but releases minor updates, such as security fixes, crash fixes, and updates to policies on an as- needed basis within the four-week period. This is currently the case for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox browsers. Aside from this standard fast-release update frequency, some vendors also offer an extended release for updates, which provides updates at a much-reduced frequency to help more structured environments, such as large corporations, educational establishments, and government departments maintain browser stability over a longer period. Regardless of which flavors of web browser you use, updating them is relatively quick and simple. Most browsers have an ‘automatic updates’ option that is often the default setting, which typically checks for updates every hour or so and on every browser restart. However, if needed, you can manually initiate a browser update, too. For example, in Google Chrome, you select the Customize and control Google Chrome icon in the top-right corner of the browser window, point to Help, and then select About Google Chrome. Chrome will check for any available updates and download and install them. In Mozilla Firefox, click the Open Application Menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window, then click Help, and then click About Firefox to check for updates. Firefox will check for any available updates, and you restart the browser to install the updates. In Microsoft Edge, click the Settings and more icon in the top-right corner of the browser window, then point to Help and feedback, and then click About Microsoft Edge. Edge will check for any available updates, and download and install them. Once the update has been downloaded, you will need to restart Edge in order to complete the update process. Devices that run macOS regularly and automatically check for updates to the Safari browser (and any other software installed) via the App Store, and will prompt you to install updates as and when they are discovered, using on-screen notifications. In the App Store, you can either update Safari alongside other applications as part of a single mass update process, or you can check for Safari updates only. If you want to manually check for and install updates to Safari only, select the Apple logo icon in the top-left corner of the window, point to App Store, and then select the Updates tab. On the Updates tab, next to Software Update, select the More link. This will expand the System Applications list and enable you to select Safari from the list of applications. Next to the Safari version number, select UPDATE. And the latest available version of Safari will then download and install. In this video, you learned that: Web browsers can be obtained as part of an operating system or via a download. The key reasons for keeping your web browsers updated are website compatibility, security, and new features. The top desktop web browsers provide major updates every four weeks, and minor updates on an as-needed basis within the four weeks. Web browsers usually update automatically, but you can also update them manually if required.
