Microsoft’s period of Extended Security Update (ESU) to Windows 7 ends today – making the software vulnerable to anyone who uses it going forward.
Aside from it, Windows 8 and 8.1 too are shutting down for good. Users are advised to upgrade to any supporting OS – like Windows 10 or 11 to keep running their Microsoft suite and services.
Windows 7 and 8 Are Done
Initially launched in 2009, Windows 7 is so much loved that Microsoft is forced to serve it with updates until even last year! This is out of the 10-year fixed lifecycle policy the company sets for every new OS update.
Even though Microsoft came with subsequent OS upgrades over the years – some users and enterprises have been stuck at Windows 7, which led to Microsoft launching a special Enterprise Security Update (ESU) plan at a cost. Now that plan has ended its 3-year lifecycle, too, Microsoft completely abandoned Windows 7 for good.
Anyone running the OS after this period should consider exposing their system to online threats and personal hacks! Aside from Windows 7, Microsoft is also ditching Windows 8 and 8.1 too today – by serving their last even update.
And since these two OS versions aren’t as popular as Windows 7, Microsoft hasn’t made any ESU plan for them. Thus, users should avoid running their systems on Windows 8 and 8.1, too, from today.
Though Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 8 in 2016, it continued serving 8.1 with updates until late last year. As its 10-year lifecycle has ended even in this pursuit, you’re now done with all the reasons to stick to it.
Well, the easiest way to continue on Microsoft suite is to upgrade to Windows 10 OS – which was launched in 2015 and has support until 2025. That’s plenty of time to decide on sticking to it or going for an even better option – Windows 11.
But if you want to get on to Windows 11, you should either buy a new PC/laptop or upgrade your current hardware to support it. Microsoft earlier mentioned the requirements for running a Windows 11 OS, which isn’t easy for any current system.