Windows 7 End of Life & What it Means For You (even if you don’t use Windows 7)
Key Takeaways
On January 14, 2020, Microsoft ended its support for Windows 7. Microsoft states, If you continue to use Windows 7 after support has ended, your PC will still work, but it will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses because you will no longer receive software updates, including security updates, from Microsoft.
This means that each time Microsoft releases a security patch for newer operating systems, hackers can identify any security holes that may exist on Windows 7, making Windows 7 users much more vulnerable to attacks. These attacks can result in a number of costly and sometimes irreparable damages, including those associated with ransomware, keylogging, and much more.
What if I don’t use Windows 7?
Even if you don’t use Windows 7, with 43% of businesses continuing to run Windows 7 despite its end of life, your information is still at risk. What’s even worse is that 16% of IT professionals admit to still running Windows XP and Windows Vista on some of their machines, despite security patches being unavailable for more than 4 years.
How can I stay safe?
- Windows 7 Users: Upgrade ImmediatelyEach day that you wait puts your computer at a higher risk for viruses and account breaches. For help making the change, visit Microsoft’s Windows 7 End of Support Info Page.
- Activate Live Account MonitoringWhile you may be taking steps to stay safe online yourself, this doesn’t mean that everyone else is doing the same. Protect yourself from the effects of an account breach by signing up for account monitoring from a company like Guardio.
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