Two months too late
In May 2017 a worm called WannaCry spread to many computers, including some in the NHS. The weak spot it used already had a fix. The fix had been out since March. The computers that were hit simply had not been updated.
Keeping things up to date is dull work. It is also some of the best protection there is.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Update | a change that fixes faults or adds small features |
| Upgrade | a move to a new version of the software or hardware |
| Patch | a small update that fixes a weak spot or fault |
| Vulnerability | a weak spot that an attacker could use |
| Rolling replacement | replacing a few devices each year, not all at once |
| Secure disposal | getting rid of old devices so nobody can read their data |
| Redundancy | spare copies or parts so one failure does not stop work |
| Operating system | the main program that runs a computer |
| Resilience | the ability to keep working or recover fast after a fault |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can describe updates, rolling replacement and redundancy as ways to make a system resilient.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Planned updates and urgent patches
An update fixes faults and weak spots. An upgrade moves to a new version, such as a new operating system release. Both are best planned: tested first, done at a quiet time, with a way back if it goes wrong.
A patch is different. When a new vulnerability is found, attackers move fast. A patch is fitted as soon as it is tested, perhaps in a day.
Planned updates compared with urgent patches
| Feature | Planned update or upgrade | Patch for a new vulnerability |
|---|---|---|
| Why | New features, fixes and support | A weak spot is being used by attackers |
| When | At a quiet, set time | As soon as it is tested |
| Testing | Full test on a few machines first | A shorter test, then fit fast |
| Risk if you wait | Falling out of support | Being attacked |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Extra: Find out what you are running
cat /etc/os-release | head -3A command for the lesson’s lab terminal. It is shown here and not run.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.