Microsoft has now formally ended support for Windows 7 but what does this mean?
The official statement from Microsoft states :-
“If you continue to use Windows 7 after support has ended on January 14, 2020, your PC will still work, but it may become more vulnerable to security risks.”
This essentially mean they will no longer provide Security Updates, Technical Support or Software Fixes so Windows 7 systems will be potentially less secure than currently supported systems such as Windows 10. Microsoft’s recommendation is to upgrade your computer to Windows 10 or better still upgrade to a newer computer that’s built to work with Windows 10.
What do the security experts say?
The National Cyber Security Centre has issued advice suggesting after 14th January 2020 Windows 7 will become less secure and should not be used for Online Banking or Emails (as reported by The Telegraph).
Whilst this advice may seem a little scary, we have to agree. If someone told you the locks on your home were old and no longer secure, you wouldn’t think twice about replacing them.
Among the risks of running an unsupported version of Windows, is having your computer infected with malware, which can steal sensitive details such as financial and banking information from your device. The advice is to move sensitive data to a secure backup device to avoid possible data loss or coruption from an infection.
What should I do?
Get professional advice on whether you should upgrade or replace your old computer. It’s quite an expensive upgrade to update your old PC to Windows 10, with the price of a genuine licence around £100, plus upgrade costs. In most cases replacing your computer with a more modern computer designed to meet the modern demands of Windows 10 will be more cost effective in the long run.
If you would like to speak to us about the options you have available call us on 0151 345 3963 or pop into our shop.
