Origin
Windows 7 is a Microsoft operating system designed for personal computers. The system was released on October 22, 2009, and was intended to rectify the poor reputation of the previous Windows Vista. It quickly became popular because it provided backward compatibility with existing drivers, hardware and applications upon release. The taskbar was greatly improved, allowing for program pinning, Windows Aero, and user account management.
Windows 7 Today
Windows 7 remains a hugely popular operating system today, still relied on by millions of people around the world more than 10 years after its release. According to a survey by the website statcounter this is down to just under 27% of computer users worldwide.
The end of updates?
When Microsoft released the Windows 7 operating system, it committed to providing support for the product for 10 years. That 10-year period has passed and what loyal users of the system feared has arrived. Microsoft would no longer release updates to the system, fix any problems, or improve security features.
Can you still use Windows 7?
If you really liked Windows 7, you can keep it. The operating system will work just like before, so you shouldn’t run into any problems with the functionality of your device. However, you should pay more attention to your computer’s security!
Security Threat
For hackers, the end of support for any software is welcome, as over time they will find ways to exploit system vulnerabilities and cause damage. A potential attack is very likely, as many users still use the software after Microsoft ends support.
For example, 2019 showed the vulnerability of Windows 7 as a record number of potential vulnerabilities in the system were discovered. These security loopholes are exploited by hackers to obtain sensitive data or to gain complete control of your computer. In total, there were 250 threats, breaking the previous record set in 2017, which was 229 threats discovered. You can see the total below:
Year
Number of threats
2009
15
2010
64
2011
102
2012
44
2013
99
2014
36
2015
149
2016
134
2017
229
2018
162
2019
250
This fact, of course, may cause some consternation for consumers and business users alike. If you want to avoid this threat, we recommend upgrading to the newer, frequently updated Windows 10 sooner rather than later.
Are you going to install Windows 10 on your computer?
Upgrading to Windows 10 from previous versions is still possible and offers several options to preserve your data, or you can go for a complete reinstall. But don’t forget to back up your data! The entire installation process is explained step-by-step on Microsoft’s official website, completely in English.
What are the system requirements for installing Windows 10?
- Processor: Frequency 1 GHz or faster
- Memory: 1 GB RAM for the 32-bit version and 2 GB RAM for the 64-bit version of the system
- Hard disk space: 16GB for 32-bit OS version, 32GB for 64-bit OS version
- Graphic Card: Graphics chip with DirectX 9 support or later
- Screen resolution: 800×600
- Internet Connection: An internet connection is required to perform updates, downloads and use some services.
If you are considering data migration or updating systems in your company, please do not hesitate to contact us. At Railsformers, we provide professional solutions to help you avoid potential security risks.