Microsoft To End Support For Windows 7 This January | Here's What To Do

This is probably a sad news for all users and lovers of Windows 7. Microsoft has announced that it will on the 14th of January 2020, end support for it's most beloved version of Windows.

So, if you're still using Windows 7, it's time for you to move on as the much-loved 2009 version of Windows gets its last security update on Jan. 14, 2020. But there might be an exception if your company pays for extended support. Also the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus program will (probably) no longer be supported either. 

As we go further into 2020, devices running Windows 7 will be more likely to become infected by malware, and any deep-rooted flaws in the operating system that arise almost certainly won't be fixed. 

That's not good for the roughly 28% of Windows users who still use Windows 7. If you're among them, you should upgrade to Windows 10. Your Windows 7 PC will almost certainly support Windows 10, though you may have to ditch some programs. 

SOLUTION 

The best way out is to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. You can do so for free provided your Windows 7 license key is valid. Simply upgrade your Windows 7 machine to Windows 10 for free by downloading and running Microsoft's own Windows 10 installation tool. Checkout instructions on how to upgrade on Microsoft's user forums.

WANT TO CONTINUE WITH WINDOWS 7?

If you decide you want to keep working with Windows 7 after Jan. 14, you'll need to take these mandatory precautions. 

1. Update everything in the Jan. 14 Microsoft Patch Tuesday release. It'll be your last chance to make sure Windows and other Microsoft software are as secure as possible.
2. Install one of the best antivirus programs. Microsoft is killing its own antivirus software for Windows 7, so you'll need something else.
3. Uninstall the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. It's a huge security hole. Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox instead.
4. Ditch Microsoft Office and any of its components, such as Word, Excel or Outlook. Switch to Google's office suite or to LibreOffice. For an email client to replace Outlook, try Gmail or Thunderbird.
5. Turn off Java in your browsers. Here's how.
6. Turn off Adobe Flash Player in your browsers. Here's how.
7. Create a limited user account for yourself and use that for day-to-day computer tasks instead of the administrator account you originally created. Limited accounts limit malware infections.

Culled from Tom's Guide