Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 Week 3

Cozy Bear, a cybercriminal organization backed by Russia, stays in business by constantly hunting for outdated and unpatched software. Sometimes, the hunt is simple – the moment a company releases a software update, they study it to see what vulnerabilities it fixes. Then they peek around the web for companies and people who haven’t installed it yet. In a way, they get a how-to guide for infecting your machine. Every day you click “Remind Me Later” for an update is another day Cozy Bear hopes you’re vulnerable... and they want to make your life a lot less cozy.

• Microsoft says state-backed Russian hackers accessed emails of senior leadership team members (The Independent)

• Midnight Blizzard deploys new GrapeLoader malware in embassy phishing (Bleeping Computer)

• Turn on automatic updates whenever possible

• Check regularly that operating systems, browsers, apps, and devices are updated

• Restart devices when updates require it

Updates don’t just add features. They are full of Bear repellent. Most operating system updates take 5 minutes or less, even including restarting your device. Just do it when prompted, enjoy the little break, and don’t make it easy for them!