Got a popup on your Windows 7 PC? Here’s what it means and what you can do.

So, you have the “Your Windows 7 PC is out of support” popup? Rest assured, it’s not some kind of malware or false warning, it’s legitimately from Microsoft. Around 29.7% of the PC’s in the world still use Windows 7. The message that pops up on boot is pretty ominous but it’s exactly what will inevitably happen if you continue to run Windows 7:

“Your Windows 7 PC is out of support

As of January 14, 2020, support for Windows 7 has come to an end. Your PC is more vulnerable to viruses and malware due to:

• No security updates
• No software updates
• No tech support

Microsoft strongly recommends using Windows 10 on a new PC for the latest security features and protection against malicious software.”

What is end of life?

First, we need to define what end of life is from an operating system perspective.  It means that Microsoft will no longer be publishing updates to patch vulnerabilities and bugs that are discovered in the Windows 7/Server 2008 code.  Every month since Windows 7/Server 2008 came out Microsoft published updates via Windows Update to make improvements, correct bugs, and patch security vulnerabilities.  These updates will no longer be available as of January 14, 2020. This happens to every Operating System, as you may recall with Windows XP (in 2014).

What happens next if I don’t update?

Truth be told, probably nothing in the immediate future.  The primary concern will be what will happen after a few weeks.  With bugs and security vulnerabilities no longer being patched, it’s just a matter of time before an exploit is found and in the wild.  These patches are critical to maintain the health and security of your workstations, laptops, and servers.  Without regular patch updates, your infrastructure would be vulnerable to the next worm, virus, or ransomware attack could be on your computer.  Also, companies that must follow HIPAA, SOX, and PCI should be aware that they may no longer be compliant with their respective requirements.

What do I need to do?

You should upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible. Currently, there’s a shortage of business grade hardware available. There’s also a shortage of labor because this EOL affects any business using Windows 7 PC (There’s still quite a few).

If you have any questions about the end of life of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2, call your on-demand IT partner, SandStorm IT, at (901) 475-0275.