The short answer to all of those questions: Yes.
Since I’m a security wonk, I naturally view software updates from a security angle. When I get the little notification that there’s a new update, I go right in and check what the update is. Then I ask myself a few questions:
There are certain products I get so excited about that I will immediately apply a new update, no matter what. But assuming you’re looking at something that’s not filling you with an overwhelming sense of excitement, what then?
The fact of the matter is any time they change code, you take a risk. There’s a risk that a new bug will be introduced. Or a new vulnerability may be uncovered. Or the user experience will be altered in a way you hate. Or who knows what will stick in your personal craw. In terms of security though, it’s better to ride the front edge of the vulnerability wave rather than the back. By updating and closing old holes, you’re decreasing the number of known problems that attackers can use to get at you. You have just raised the bar on the skill needed to infiltrate your machine. In my book, it’s a good thing to be that much harder to catch than the next guy.
Just be sure you’re getting your updates straight from the source, meaning you’ve entered in the vendor’s website directly, at least to check the latest version number. Sometimes app stores may have outdated versions, and we’ve all heard of malware that disguises itself as update notices. It’s all about being safe rather than sorry.