To prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited, all of this software must be kept up to date. This means installing patches released by the software developers to close security holes found in their products

Here are some best practices for protecting your laptop & devices:

• Use a strong, unique password: It's important to use a strong, unique password for your laptop to protect it from being hacked. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts and make sure to use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your laptop by requiring you to enter a code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password when logging in from a new device.
• Use antivirus software: Antivirus software can help protect your laptop from viruses and other malicious software. Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date to ensure that it can protect you from the latest threats.
• Keep your operating system and software up to date: It's important to keep your operating system and software up to date to ensure that you have the latest security and performance improvements.
• Enable the firewall: The firewall is a security feature that can help protect your laptop from unauthorized access. Make sure to enable the firewall on your laptop to help protect it from potential threats.
• Use a physical lock: If you're concerned about the physical security of your laptop, consider using a physical lock to secure it. There are a variety of laptop locks available that can help prevent unauthorized access to your device.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN): A VPN can help protect your data and online activity when using public Wi-Fi networks or accessing the internet from a potentially insecure location.
• Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks can be insecure, so it's a good idea to use a VPN when accessing the internet over a public Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, be cautious when accessing sensitive information, such as financial accounts, over public Wi-Fi.

What to keep up to date?

You should make sure you have ways of keeping each of the following important types of software up to date:

• Operating System (OS): Most operating systems support automatic updates but will need the feature to be enabled. It's normally enabled by default, but could have been turned off.
• Web browser and extensions: Web browsers are particularly vulnerable, as they are very complex pieces of software and the sites you visit could potentially exploit flaws in them.
• Third-party apps - especially office apps: Apps you install yourself will need to be kept up to date. Some apps will update themselves, some will update through your device's app store, but some might need you to install updates yourself.
• Antivirus (if applicable): If you use antivirus or endpoint security apps, you'll want to ensure that these are updated regularly. Like other software, antivirus updates include bug fixes and new features, but also include new signatures which can be used to detect new malware that's recently been detected by the AV companies.