Why Do Employees Ignore Software Update Notifications?

Despite security warnings, employees often ignore software updates, putting organizations at risk. The infamous WannaCry ransomware attack exploited outdated software, causing $4 billion in damages globally. Many postpone operating system, application, and security patch updates, either because they’re busy or don’t see the urgency.

Common reasons include fear of downtime, habit, or believing updates aren’t important. Some employees also distrust update notifications, worrying they might be scams. These behaviors make it harder to turn awareness into action, increasing security risks.

This blog explores why employees skip updates, the dangers of delay, and how organizations can encourage timely updates to stay secure.

Understanding the Psychology Behind Inaction

Organizations constantly stress the need for software updates to fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance. However, many employees delay or ignore update notifications, leaving systems open to cyber threats.

To close this gap, it’s important to understand why employees hesitate. Addressing these reasons can help organizations turn awareness into action and strengthen their security.

The Update-Inaction Paradox

Despite knowing that updates often include critical security patches, employees frequently procrastinate or dismiss update prompts. This behavior stems from psychological, cultural, and situational factors:

1. Perceived Inconvenience

Many employees see software updates interrupting their work, so they delay them to avoid disruptions. The longer they postpone, the less urgent updates seem, leading to a habit of ignoring them.

Example: An employee clicks “Remind Me Tomorrow” on a software update notification, thinking, “I’ll handle it later when I’m less busy.”

2. Lack of Immediate Consequences

Since the risks of skipping updates aren’t immediately visible. Employees don’t see an urgent reason to install them. Without an obvious impact, they assume delaying updates has no real downside, leading to complacency.

Example: “Nothing bad has happened yet, so skipping updates must be fine.”

3. Optimism Bias

Employees may believe that their systems are unlikely to be targeted by cybercriminals, underestimating the risks of outdated software.

Example: “Hackers target big companies, not individuals like me.”

4. Fear of Downtime or Errors

Employees may worry that updates will introduce technical issues or require significant downtime, disrupting their workflow.

Example: “What if the update crashes my system or breaks my tools?”

5. Cognitive Overload

In fast-paced work environments, employees juggle multiple tasks and often push software updates to the bottom of their to-do lists. With deadlines and daily responsibilities taking priority, updates feel like a low-risk task that can wait.

Example: “I’ll deal with the update later—I have too much on my plate right now.”

6. Habitual Behavior

When employees repeatedly ignore update notifications, it becomes a habit rather than a conscious decision. Over time, they dismiss updates automatically, assuming that if nothing has gone wrong so far, updates aren’t essential.

Example: “I’ve ignored these for months, and everything still works fine.”

7. Distrust in Update Prompts

Some employees worry that update notifications might be fake, suspecting them to be phishing attempts or malware. This fear leads them to ignore or delay updates rather than risk clicking on something unsafe.

Example: “What if this isn’t a legitimate update?”

The Risks of Skipping Updates

Delaying software updates exposes organizations to cyber threats. Attackers actively exploit known vulnerabilities, making unpatched systems an easy target.

• Increased Vulnerability to Attacks – The Black Basta ransomware group took advantage of an unpatched security vulnerability, letting hackers gain full control over affected systems. A fix for this issue was released in March 2024, but many organizations were slow to update, leaving their systems unprotected and vulnerable to attacks.
• Operational Disruptions – Outdated software can cause compatibility issues, slowing productivity.
• Regulatory Non-Compliance – Ignoring updates can lead to GDPR and HIPAA violations.
• Real-World Impact – A ransomware attack leveraging unpatched vulnerabilities resulted in 5.6% of NotPetya’s $10 billion economic impact.

Timely updates are essential to prevent breaches, downtime, and compliance risks.

Strategies to Encourage Update Compliance

Many employees delay software updates due to inconvenience, fear of disruptions, or a lack of urgency. Organizations can overcome these barriers with the following strategies:

1. Automate Updates

Reduce the need for employee action by enabling automatic updates wherever possible. This ensures critical security patches are applied without delays.

2. Provide Clear Communication

Explain updates in simple, non-technical terms, emphasizing their role in preventing cyberattacks and protecting company data. Employees are more likely to comply when they understand the risks of outdated software.

3. Reduce Disruption

Schedule updates during off-peak hours or allow employees to choose convenient installation times.

4. Implement Reminders and Nudges

Use behavioral science techniques, such as periodic reminders or notifications highlighting the risks of delaying updates.

5. Address Fears Through Security Awareness Training

Educate employees on verifying legitimate updates and address misconceptions about updates causing system errors.

6. Celebrate Compliance

Recognize and reward individuals or teams that consistently keep their software up to date. Creating a positive security culture encourages responsible behavior and long-term compliance.

How Keepnet Supports Update Compliance

Many employees delay software updates due to inconvenience, fear of disruptions, or a lack of urgency. Keepnet provides powerful tools to help organizations overcome these barriers and drive better compliance.

• Ensure Safe Update Recognition with AI Phishing Simulations: Employees may ignore updates, fearing they are phishing attempts. Keepnet Phishing Simulator uses AI-driven phishing simulations to train employees to identify legitimate update prompts, reducing hesitation and security risks.
• Reinforce Update Compliance with Nudges: Keepnet Security Awareness Training sends personalized reminders and security nudges to employees, encouraging them to complete software updates before they become vulnerabilities.
• Address Fears with Interactive Training: Many employees worry that updates will cause system errors or downtime. Keepnet Security Awareness Training provides real-life phishing simulations and engaging content to dispel myths and encourage proactive security behavior.
• Monitor & Reward Secure Behavior: Keepnet Phishing Risk Score allows organizations to track and update compliance and reward employees who consistently follow security protocols, reinforcing a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

With Keepnet Extended Human Risk Management solution, organizations can close the gap between awareness and action, ensuring employees prioritize software updates and keep their systems secure.

Conclusion

Understanding why employees ignore software update notifications is key to addressing this pervasive issue. Psychological barriers like perceived inconvenience, optimism bias, and cognitive overload can all contribute to inaction. Implement targeted strategies and leverage tools like Keepnet Extended Human Risk Management Platform offers. , organizations can close the gap between awareness and action.

In cybersecurity, staying updated isn’t optional—it’s essential. Empower your workforce to prioritize updates and create a safer, more secure environment.