about Updating K2 component and GD library

Hi!

Is it safe to make K2 component updates?
I've noticed that the K2 version installed with the template is 2.3, and the latest K2 is 2.4.1.

Another question (for specialists!): the GD library installed on my server running Linux Ubuntu is 2.0 version.
The GK Photoslide tells me that i should upgrade to a newer version on GD.
Anyway, I just can't success in upgrading GD library in Ubuntu.
I know there's something tricky between ubuntu and the latest GD lib, but I didn't find how fix it.