Windows 7, the operating system that has accompanied us for a decade or so and which today sees the end of security updates.
It has been three years since Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 7, the Redmond company will no longer provide security updates, leaving users with the choice of upgrading their PC to a newer operating system or staying with Windows 7 and being exposed to ongoing security threats.
The Windows 7 project was abandoned in January 2020 after more than a decade of service, but Microsoft has allowed customers who have particular, older equipment that is not easy to update (e.g. hospital scanning equipment or systems that involve production lines) to pay to still have security support.
These extended security updates ended today.
It is not known exactly how many PCs with Windows 7 are still running (or connected to the Internet, which increases the risk), but some data puts the number at around one in 10 computers. Of course, Windows 7 will continue to function, but it will no longer receive new security updates.
Windows 8.1, the version of the operating system that succeeded Windows 7, has also reached its end, almost 10 years after its release, with support ending on Tuesday. Microsoft has said that it will not offer security updates for Windows 8.1, which may be due to its low usage, as many have moved directly to Windows 10.
Meanwhile, the latest version of Microsoft Edge (version 109) is scheduled to be released on Thursday, and will be the last version to support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
Windows 7, the operating system that has accompanied us for a decade or so and which today sees the end of security updates.
It has been three years since Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 7, the Redmond company will no longer provide security updates, leaving users with the choice of upgrading their PC to a newer operating system or staying with Windows 7 and being exposed to ongoing security threats.
The Windows 7 project was abandoned in January 2020 after more than a decade of service, but Microsoft has allowed customers who have particular, older equipment that is not easy to update (e.g. hospital scanning equipment or systems that involve production lines) to pay to still have security support.
These extended security updates ended today.
It is not known exactly how many PCs with Windows 7 are still running (or connected to the Internet, which increases the risk), but some data puts the number at around one in 10 computers. Of course, Windows 7 will continue to function, but it will no longer receive new security updates.
Windows 8.1, the version of the operating system that succeeded Windows 7, has also reached its end, almost 10 years after its release, with support ending on Tuesday. Microsoft has said that it will not offer security updates for Windows 8.1, which may be due to its low usage, as many have moved directly to Windows 10.
Meanwhile, the latest version of Microsoft Edge (version 109) is scheduled to be released on Thursday, and will be the last version to support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.