Windows 7 was released in October 2009, while Windows 8 was made available in October 2012. These operating systems (OS) are more than 10 years old by now and if you are still using them, you should consider an upgrade, very soon.
The Verge reports that Microsoft will be cutting off support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 starting next week, Tuesday. They will no longer receive security updates and technical support from Microsoft, making them vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Not only that, Edge and Chrome will also stop supporting Windows 7 and 8.1, with Google ending support on 7 February 2023. Users can still use the browsers, but don’t expect anymore updates or new features.
More than 100 million PCs around the world are still running Windows 7 and as of December 2022, Windows 8.1 has a market share of 2.59% worldwide according to StatCounter, making it the 4th most popular Windows version.
It might be a good idea to install Windows 10 or 11 on your PC if your computer runs Windows 7 or 8.1. To avoid any potential security risks, Microsoft advises replacing the PC with a newer one before 10 January if that isn’t possible.
