Microsoft Windows 7 and 8.1 will no longer receive additional security upgrades for major and significant vulnerabilities as of right now.
Soon, Google Chrome won’t function on Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1.
Microsoft Will End All Support For Windows 7 & 8.1 From January 10th, 2023.
In January 2020, Microsoft formally discontinued security updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. The Extended Security Update (ESU) initiative, however, lets customers continue using these outdated operating systems on their gadgets. Users will be forced to update to the most recent Windows version on their desktops and laptops. In addition, all editions of Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will no longer receive business support.
The legacy operating system was released by Microsoft in October 2009. Then, in January 2015, it reached its end of support, and in January 2020, it reached its extended end of support. On the same day, all editions of Windows 8.1( which was released nine years ago in November 2013) would also be available on EOS. According to Statcounter GlobalStats, Windows 7 is currently installed on more than 11% of all Windows systems globally, whereas Windows 8.1 is only used by 2.59% of Microsoft customers.
Google Chrome Will Not Work On Windows 7 & 8.1 From February 2023
Soon, Google Chrome support for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 will end. According to sources, the tech giant will release Chrome 110, its newest upgrade, on February 7 for Windows 10 and later-running devices. The tech powerhouse continued, “If you are currently using Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, we recommend you to upgrade to a compatible Windows version to guarantee you continue to receive the most recent security updates and Chrome features”.
Additionally, as of today, January 10, 2023, Microsoft Edge 109 support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will also be discontinued. The browser will still function on these versions, but it won’t be able to receive security updates, leaving it open to bugs and security risks. According to the business, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 will no longer be supported by this version of Microsoft Edge.
Although Microsoft Edge 109 and Google Chrome 110 will still function on older operating systems, they won’t get any security updates or bug fixes, putting their users at risk for security issues.
What Can Windows Users Do Next?
If you have a compatible Windows 7 PC then it can be upgraded to Windows 10 by buying and installing a complete version of the software. But before spending money on a Windows 10 upgrade, please keep in mind that Windows 10 will reach its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025.
According to a survey it was understood that most Windows 7 systems do not match the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. Thus, customers are also advised to upgrade to updated machines with the newest hardware capabilities rather than using outdated devices that are incompatible with Windows 11.
Your Thoughts On Microsoft & Google Ends Windows 7 And 8 Extended Security.
End Of Support indicates that it is high time that the users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 need to upgrade. Also remember, that upgrading your PC to Windows 10 is not the best option because the support for Windows 10 ends by 2025. This means that Windows 11 is the only option left which means upgrading the hardware as well. This could be an expensive affair and alternatives like Macs have sky-high prices. You could always consider Linux systems as a cheaper alternative.
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