Today, Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on its support for Windows 7. What’s your plan?
As the adage goes, “all good things must come to an end”. And so it is with Windows 7. It received a distinctly warmer welcome than its predecessor, Vista, when it first graced our personal computers in October 2009. The immensely popular operating system (OS) sold over 630 million licenses and introduced a slew of improvements and a new look. After over 10 years of supporting it, Microsoft is officially retiring the OS by ending its Extended Support today.
But, as of December 2019, Windows 7 still commanded over 26% of the Windows market share, a figure that includes millions of home users. So, what does the end of life of Windows 7 mean for all those people who still run the operating system?
You may become an easy target
Most of all, it means leaving your computer more vulnerable. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 7, which means you will no longer receive security updates, nor will you get any technical support from Microsoft customer service. While Microsoft will not stop you from using Windows 7 and you can keep on browsing the internet and accessing your email, in a way you will be choosing to do so at your peril.
Now, you may argue that you use the latest version of a reputable security solution. We commend your proper cybersecurity habits but, unfortunately, it won’t help if bad actors find a new vulnerability in the operating system. If they can uncover and exploit the security hole, they can install all manner of malware on susceptible machines, wreaking havoc and potentially dealing insurmountable damage.
