In computer networking, a software modification or installation performed remotely from an originating site (e.g., by authority of a network administrator) on a subject user's computer, by means of a special utility program that enables access to the subject computer whenever it is powered up and on line. Note: An online software upgrade may be performed (a) automatically, without the consent and, perhaps, without the knowledge of the user, (b) semi-automatically, in which case an application resident on the networked computer will, upon every bootup, automatically check the originating site and notify the user if an upgrade is available (if so, some kind of assenting action on the part of the user is necessary to retrieve it,) or (c) manually, in which case the user must check the originating site periodically to determine whether an upgrade is available, and take some kind of assenting action to retrieve it.