WARNING
You’ve probably heard the phrase "update your drivers" before. I
always get nervous when clients tell me they’ve Updated their drivers just
because an email, a program, or even a person told them to. The truth is,
updating drivers like this is usually a bad idea. Most people don’t know what a
driver is, what it does, or whether it actually needs to be updated.
So, what exactly is a driver? A driver is a piece of software that helps your
computer’s hardware (like your keyboard, mouse, printer, monitor, or even your
graphics card) communicate with Windows. Every device connected to your computer
has its own driver. Without it, your computer wouldn’t know how to use that
device properly.
Here’s the thing: many programs that claim to update your drivers are actually
dangerous. I include the Slimware 'DriverUpdate' software shown above.
These drivers can come from anywhere. They could be malware, viruses, or even
ransomware. You might be downloading something that will harm your computer without
even realizing it—until it’s too late.
Most people don’t know how to choose the right driver. If you pick the wrong
one, it could mess up your whole system and corrupt Windows.
So, how do you get the right driver? In most cases, you can get it directly from
the manufacturer’s website, like Dell or HP. If it’s for a specific device, like
a printer or graphics card, go straight to the maker of that device. Windows
updates usually include drivers for most common devices, so you don’t always
need to look elsewhere. Be careful with third-party sources—they may not
trustworthy, current or even the wrong one entirely.
The best rule of thumb? If everything is working fine, don’t mess with your
drivers. Leave things as they are. But if you're having problems, you may wish
to ask a professional to help you.
