So what is so terrible about using Windows 7? I know it is not supported anymore but if I am just reading free republic or checking my email what is so bad about using it?
nothing. life is all about risk. but asking an innocent tech question on FR is always kicking over a hornet nest.
It's been over a year since Win7 had any security patches (fixes for vulnerabilities). In that time, hundreds of Win10 vulnerabilities have been patched in the monthly Windows Updates. Every month, experienced hackers around the world reverse-engineer the monthly updates for Win10, knowing that the same vulnerability probably exists in Win7 -- and Win7 didn't get the patches, so it is still vulnerable.
In other words, every month, Windows flaws that exist in Win7, get patched for Win10 but not Win7, and the Bad Guys learn what they are.
Now all that said, if you ONLY EVER go to FreeRepublic and a reputable email provider's site, and NEVER click on a link on FR that takes you anywhere else, chances are you're pretty safe, browsing-wise. But if you open a malware email, or click on a bad link in an email, your Win7 computer is much more likely to get infected, than if it was Win10.
Make sense?