Windows 7 was released in 2009, but to this day, many users still prefer it over the newer Windows 10 operating system. Unfortunately, Win 7 will reach its End of Life status on January 15, 2020. This news has been the buzz around the tech industry for the past few weeks.
Now, you may wonder, “What does Windows 7 reaching its End of Life mean?” Well, once the operating system reaches the End of Support phase, Microsoft will no longer release security updates for it. So, staying with the OS after End of Life will have risks.
What Are the Windows 7 End of Life Risks?
As the Windows 7 End of Life phase quickly approaches, more and more users are getting worried about the risks of using the operating system. After all, this change means that Microsoft will no longer support the OS. Of course, many people still believe that the operating system is not completely dead yet. However, before you make any decision, it is best that you understand the risks of staying with Windows 7 first.
For one, you can no longer expect Microsoft to send security updates and patches to your operating system. Essentially, Windows 7 will be alone in the world, with no help from the tech giant. Consequently, it will likely become a hacking ground for criminals. It is true that Microsoft promised to continue providing virus signature updates to Microsoft Security Essentials. However, third-party anti-virus developers will stop providing support for Windows 7 gradually.
One of the possible scenarios after the Windows 7 End of Life phase is criminals reverse engineering security updates. Doing so will allow them to uncover all the vulnerabilities in the operating system. As such, it’s possible that users will get notified late—or not at all—when there are zero-day vulnerabilities in the system. Now, if you’re using Windows 7 and you happen to visit a website that spreads malware, you may put the data on your PC in danger.
When you think of all the possible risks, you may have several questions about Windows 7. Can you reinstall or activate Windows 7? Will Chrome stop supporting Windows 7? Above all these considerations, what’s imperative is asking whether you should upgrade to Windows 10. Well, you don’t necessarily have to upgrade to the newer operating system. If you want, you can switch to Linux or Mac. What we’re trying to say here is that it may be high time to let Windows 7 go.
May One Use Windows 7 in 2020?
We understand that there are users who won’t budge and would still prefer using Windows 7. If you insist on using the operating system yet you don’t want to put your computer at risk, then you can take advantage of the Extended Support that Microsoft is offering. You need to pay for the service for every device, every year. What’s more, the cost of support is expensive and it will continue to increase annually. As you can see, it is easier and more reasonable to bid Windows 7 adieu and upgrade to Windows 10.
Why You Should Switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10
If you have no plans of using a different operating system—like Mac or Linux—then your best option is to upgrade to Windows 10. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider doing this:
Reason 1: Doubly Secure
Compared to Windows 7, Windows 10 is doubly secure. With the latter, you will have the built-in Windows Security app. Moreover, the OS has been hardwired to protect you against ransomware that uses Controlled folder access. As such, you can rest easy knowing that you have secured files. Moreover, any program without proper access won’t be able to modify anything.
Reason 2: Your Old Hardware Can Run Windows 10
As long as your hardware is not a decade old, it will still be able to run Windows 10. You would be surprised to discover that the minimum requirements for the operating system are not too high. In most cases, minor changes like a new SSD will do the trick.
Reason 3: The Benefit of Using the Latest Secure Browsers
Eventually, Firefox, Chrome, and other browsers will stop providing support for Windows 7. On the other hand, if you upgrade to Windows 10, you’ll get the latest security and functionality features for web browsers. What’s more, you’ll enjoy the Chromium Engine-based browser of Windows 10, Microsoft Edge.
Reason 4: Secure Microsoft Office Products
Office 365 will keep receiving updates until January 2023. On the other hand, Office 2010 will no longer have support by October 13, 2020. Meanwhile, Office 2013 will keep getting updates until 2023. Now, with the security risks in Windows 7, your files may be in trouble once Microsoft stops supporting Office suites. So, if you want to keep your files, emails, and other data protected, it is best to upgrade to Windows 10.
Reason 5: Nothing Too Overwhelming
One of the reasons why Windows 7 users prefer staying with the operating system is because of its simple features. Now, we understand that you might worry that Windows 10 may be overloaded with new and unnecessary features. Well, Microsoft has decided to release feature updates twice a year instead of issuing a new version of the operating system every few years. To give you an idea, we’ll show you the release dates of the different versions of the Windows operating system:
- August 24, 2001 – Windows XP
- July 22, 2009 – Windows 7
- October 26, 2012 – Windows 8
- July 29, 2015 – Windows 10
Since Windows 7, Microsoft released a new version of the operating system every three years. Now, it has been five years since the tech giant rolled out Windows 10. Now, Microsoft releases feature updates regularly.
Another point of concern of Windows 7 users is that upgrading may cause slowdowns on their OS. Many users noticed that Windows 10 does not perform as fast as the old operating system. This problem may be partly due to the bloatware that comes with the new system. To avoid this issue, we recommend that you optimize Windows 10 after the upgrade. You can do this by using a dedicated program like Auslogics BoostSpeed.
This utility will safely and efficiently remove all types of PC junk. It will also tweak non-optimal system settings to ensure fast operating speeds all the time. With a few clicks, you’ll be able to resolve all causes of glitches and crashes, restoring smooth and stable performance with no side effects.
What are your thoughts about Windows 7’s End of Life status?
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