Citadel / Controls / BrowserUpdated

BrowserUpdated Control

What does this control check?

The BrowserUpdated control verifies that your browser has been restarted recently. Modern browsers download updates automatically in the background, but they require a restart to actually apply these updates and protect you from security vulnerabilities.

Important: Just because your browser downloads updates doesn't mean you're protected. Updates only take effect after you restart your browser. Running an outdated browser leaves you vulnerable to known security exploits that attackers actively use to compromise systems.

Why is this important?

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Security Patches

Browser updates frequently contain critical security fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Without restarting, these patches remain inactive, leaving you exposed to attacks that could steal your data or compromise your accounts.

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Active Exploitation

Browser vulnerabilities are among the most actively exploited security issues. Attackers specifically target users running outdated browser versions because they know exactly what vulnerabilities exist.

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Performance & Stability

Regular browser restarts clear memory leaks, improve performance, and ensure you have the latest features and compatibility improvements for modern websites.

How to fix this

Restarting Your Browser on Windows

Quick Method:

  1. Close all browser windows completely
  2. Wait a few seconds to ensure the browser has fully closed
  3. Reopen your browser

Ensure Complete Closure:

  1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager
  2. Look for your browser in the list of running applications
  3. If you see it still running, right-click it and select End task
  4. Reopen your browser normally
💡 Pro tip: Don't worry about losing your open tabs! Most browsers can be configured to automatically reopen your previous tabs when you restart. See the section below on "Automatically Restoring Your Tabs" to set this up.
⚠️ Before restarting your browser:
  • Make sure you've saved any work in web applications (emails, documents, forms)
  • Check for any active downloads that might be interrupted
  • Consider bookmarking important pages if tab restore isn't configured

Restarting Your Browser on macOS

Quick Method:

  1. Press ⌘ + Q to quit your browser completely
  2. Wait a few seconds to ensure the browser has fully closed
  3. Reopen your browser from the Dock or Applications folder

Alternative Method:

  1. Click your browser's name in the menu bar (top-left)
  2. Select Quit [Browser Name]
  3. Reopen your browser normally
💡 Pro tip: Don't worry about losing your open tabs! Most browsers can be configured to automatically reopen your previous tabs when you restart. See the section below on "Automatically Restoring Your Tabs" to set this up.
⚠️ Important notes:
  • Simply closing windows (⌘ + W) doesn't quit the browser - you must use ⌘ + Q
  • Make sure you've saved any work in web applications before quitting
  • Check for any active downloads that might be interrupted
  • Consider bookmarking important pages if tab restore isn't configured

Automatically Restoring Your Tabs

One of the main reasons people avoid restarting their browser is the fear of losing all their open tabs. Fortunately, all modern browsers can automatically restore your previous session when you restart.

Configure your browser to restore tabs:

Visit your browser's startup configuration page to enable this feature.

Recommended practice: Enable automatic tab restoration and restart your browser at least once a week. Many users restart daily (end of workday) to ensure they always have the latest security updates and a fresh browser session.

Verifying the fix

After restarting your browser, Citadel will automatically verify this control and update your security status.

To confirm your browser restarted correctly:

  1. Check that your browser's version number hasn't changed (it may have updated)
  2. Look for any "Welcome" or "What's New" messages that might indicate an update was applied
  3. Verify that Citadel shows this control as passing
Note: If you configured your browser to restore tabs, you should see your previous tabs reopening automatically. This confirms the feature is working correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I restart my browser?

We recommend restarting your browser at least once a week, preferably more often. Many security-conscious users restart their browser daily. If you see an update notification from your browser, restart it as soon as convenient.

Will I lose my browsing history or bookmarks?

No. Restarting your browser only closes the application temporarily. All your bookmarks, history, passwords, and settings remain intact. With tab restoration enabled, even your open tabs will return.

What if I'm in the middle of something important?

Save your work first, then restart when convenient. For web-based applications, make sure anything you're working on is saved. Most modern web apps auto-save, but it's always best to verify before closing.

My browser says it will update automatically. Why do I need to restart?

Your browser downloads updates in the background, but it cannot replace its own running code. The new, secure version only loads when you restart the browser. Until then, you're still running the old, potentially vulnerable version.