Question Ability to auto-detect out-of-date firmware (BIOS)

[wpshooter]

Are there any computer systems which have the ability to "automatically" detect that the firmware (BIOS) is out-of-date and give the user/owner a warning that the firmware needs to be updated, i.e. phone home ?

Thanks.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Lenovo PCs with the Lenovo helper application do.

 

[wpshooter]

So, that being the case, my question is why would not all computer/electronic devices do this, I am one that does not necessarily (and especially in this case) hold to the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it), because if this firmware is not kept up-to-date it might be broke and you don't even know it !!! Thanks.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Some routers auto-update their firmware, too.

 

[igor_kavinski]

Auto-update isn't always good. Yes, Spectre/Meltdown and now Downfall seem scary but when's the last time anyone got seriously F'ed up for not having an updated firmware? User must always know what the update will do and have the choice to refuse the update.

 

[Tech Junky]

I think an alert would be nice. Problem is you have to use the mobo nic for it to check and that's not always the case with some setups to have it connected. I don't because I have a quad 5ge nic for everything to connect to.

 

[gdansk]

It is my opinion that normal PC users shouldn't update their BIOS unless you are having problems or your hardware is used by untrusted users.
Which is why you see automatic firmware updates in servers and corporate-owned laptops.
But many motherboard vendors will have some optional, bloated Windows utility program to alert you anyway.

 

[Tech Junky]

Windows

That's a whole nother issue. I run a headless Linux box so, a notification would be helpful unless I set a reminder to check for an update it slips past me for awhile. I do get notifications for other updates and can apply uefi/bios updates from Linux and reboot to apply.

As for Microsoft I block them by DNS and selectively apply patches because they're known to cause more issues than they fix usually.

The only automatic things I let occur are backups internally.