As you probably know by now, Microsoft will no longer be supplying security updates for Windows 7 after January 14, 2020.
In other words, they’re going to basically abandon Windows 7 and leave users to fend for themselves when it comes to the security of their computers.
Several people have asked me if it’ll be safe to keep using Windows 7 after the updates stop coming down the pike.
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
While it’s true that a good antivirus program and safe web browsing practices would go a long way towards keeping a Windows 7 PC malware-free, they simply can’t protect the machine from the security flaws that will inevitably be discovered in the Windows 7 code itself.
Such flaws are frequently discovered in every version of every operating system, and when they are found they are usually quickly patched via an update.
The problem is Microsoft will no longer be releasing updates to Windows 7 after they abandon it on January 14.
Therefore, all the security flaws that will surely be discovered after that date will go unpatched – and they’ll surely be exploited by hackers.
I know that updating a computer to Windows 10 can be frustrating, but in the end I honestly believe it’s the best move.
If you’re concerned about software compatibility, most programs that run under Windows 7 will work just fine under Windows 10. But that being said, there are a relative few that won’t.
If there’s a specific program you’re concerned about you can do a Google search for something like “will [program name and version] work with Windows 10“.
You’ll likely find the answer pretty quickly.
Bottom line: While your Windows 7 PC will continue working just fine after January 14, it’ll no longer be secure from hacking attacks and other types of security exploits.
Therefore, I strongly recommend that you either update your Windows 7 PC to Windows 10 or take the plunge and purchase a new computer (#ad) with Windows 10 already installed on it.
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