(5S Step 4 — Vorbeugen) Why are software updates a core security measure, not just a nuisance?

New vulnerabilities are found daily, and attackers hunt for them — updates close the holes before they're exploited.

Security gaps are discovered constantly in the programs you use, and criminals actively scan for unpatched systems. Updates ("patches") fix those holes. The key points:

• Update everything, not just the OS — browsers and plug-ins, PDF readers, Flash/Java (historically), office suites, etc.
• End-of-life software (e.g. Windows XP/Vista/7) gets no patches, so known holes stay open forever — upgrade off it.
• Update tools can automate tracking what's outdated.

Why "prevent": patching is preventive medicine — it removes the vulnerability so the exploit has nothing to land on. Most mass attacks (worms, ransomware) ride on holes that were patched months earlier; the victims just hadn't applied the update.

Tip: "Prevent" pairs with "monitor" — a firewall limits exposure, but only patching actually removes the weakness.