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Am I Screwed If I Don't Upgrade Windows 7 by January 15? (*Spoiler*: Well, it depends...)
LifeHacker ^ | Jan 10, 2020 | David Murphy

Posted on 01/13/2020 9:11:43 AM PST by dayglored

Deadlines are scary. I know. And Microsoft has thrown Windows 7 users a big one: Update to a more modern operating system by January 15, 2020, or you’ll never receive security updates ever again. Eventually, Microsoft will even start disabling key Windows 7 services—like Internet Backgammon and Internet Checkers—throughout the year.

I’m being a little lighthearted about this, but Microsoft’s abandonment of Windows 7 is a cause of concern for many. Lifehacker reader Douglas recently wrote in with this question:

“I was reading your writeup regarding Windows 7 and I really cannot afford to upgrade at this exact moment. Is it catastrophic if I don’t upgrade now? Thanks in advance for your help”
Catastrophic? No. If you’re still clinging to Windows 7, odds are good that you’re using it to address simple handful of simpler needs—sending email, browsing the web, etc. That, or perhaps you have a few specific applications that don’t work with future versions of Windows, or you might even be running Windows 7 on old hardware that can’t handle the upgrade for whatever reason (speed or available space).

Windows 7 will keep working come January 15. However, now that Microsoft won’t be releasing any more security updates for the operating system, it’s true that Windows 7 will be more vulnerable to attack. No question there.

However, I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that you’ll be able to mitigate most issues with some good common sense. In Lifehacker terms, that means thinking hard about your cyber-security setup at home and doing everything you can to ensure that software doesn’t get on your machine that can take advantage of any vulnerabilities that will not be patched going forward.

Were I still using Windows 7, I’d go the nuclear option. I’d install some variant of Linux on my system and run Windows 7 in a virtual machine, thereby giving me a fresh, updated system to work with for everyday activities, and access to Windows 7 for any super-specific apps or services I need to use. It’s not a tricky process, but it’s possible that setting up this kind of a configuration might be over the heads of many people still using Windows 7. That, or your system is too underpowered to run a VM. (I’ll likely write a guide for this next week, so stay tuned!)

Otherwise, there’s plenty else you can do to keep yourself as protected as possible from exploits while you cling to the sweet familiarity of Windows 7. The list is pretty comprehensive:

And here’s an even crazier idea; if you don’t need the web on your Windows 7 machine for whatever reason, then just disconnect it. The odds of your system being hacked just plummeted, so long as you don’t go around plugging random USB keys into your computer.

I don’t want to come out and say that there’s a picture-perfect way to secure Windows 7 starting January 15 (aside from unplugging your computer from the web). I’m guessing that most attacks will initiate from user activity; as in, some kind of phishing attempt or malware will trip you up, and this will be how a rogue app infects your system and exploits your older OS. If you practice some cybersecurity common sense, you should be able to avoid most (or all) of these instances.

That’s not to say that you should cling to Windows 7 forever. No operating system is one-hundred-percent secure, but I’d much rather stick with an operating system Microsoft is actively patching than one that it isn’t. Conversely, even if you bump up to Windows 10, you should still follow the instructions in this article, where applicable. Having solid security practices is one of your best lines of defense against malware, viruses, and other unpleasant digital issues.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: antivirus; endoflife; malware; microsoft; ransomware; windows10; windows7; windowspinglist
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To: CIB-173RDABN
I'm still running XP.

I don't even like all the pointless changes they made to windows 7, which I have on one machine. I have another that runs Windows 8, and that is the most godawful mess they ever created. Needless to say I won't use that machine.

61 posted on 01/13/2020 3:13:56 PM PST by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no oither sovereignty.")
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To: DiogenesLamp

My first computer was a VIC 20 with 4k memory! I bought the upgrade that gave me 16K.

I learn to write BASIC code (but never was any good at it).

So I have used every Windows version up to WIN 10. I am comfortable with my VISTA and it has all the software I need on it so as long as it works, there is no need to upgrade.


62 posted on 01/13/2020 3:21:48 PM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
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To: ducttape45
...any email clients out there that are worth a hoot and that can do what Outlook does.

I've had good luck with eM Client.

Mostly it just works, but as far as ease of use of the Contacts, it doesn't cause me a percent the grief/hairpulling that OOOtLook does.

63 posted on 01/13/2020 3:29:43 PM PST by Unrepentant VN Vet (Never quit anything in my life, ain't going to start quitting now. WWG1WGA)
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To: dayglored
Windows 7 is much more stable than Windows 10. If you are running Windows 7, it is probably on an older machine. Sooner or later that machine will need a new power supply or the old CPU and probably limited amount of memory will become just too little for new software that may tempt you.

Finally, at some point you will likely want to use new peripherals that use things the Windows 7 and its packaged drivers don't really support say that use USB C power & video.

The point is I have some window's 10 machines, and a Windows 7. I am not going to upgrade the Windows 7, but i will be careful as to the files I examine and I will back things up regularly.

64 posted on 01/13/2020 3:37:57 PM PST by Robert357
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To: dayglored

bttt


65 posted on 01/13/2020 3:47:38 PM PST by timestax
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To: caww

LOL — so if I count you twice, that makes 3 of you!


66 posted on 01/13/2020 4:18:43 PM PST by DJ Frisat ( (optional, printed after my name on post))
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To: CIB-173RDABN
"My first computer was a VIC 20 with 4k memory! I bought the upgrade that gave me 16K."

Wow! What did you need all that memory for?

My first one was a COSMAC Elf, with 256 BYTES of memory. (Look it up if you don't believe me...)

67 posted on 01/13/2020 4:23:59 PM PST by DJ Frisat ( (optional, printed after my name on post))
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To: DJ Frisat

Probably...I do have a newer mac Laptop given to me but too lazy to make the switch! LLOLL


68 posted on 01/13/2020 4:37:22 PM PST by caww
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To: Abigail Adams

Bookmark for later.


69 posted on 01/13/2020 5:42:27 PM PST by Abigail Adams
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To: ransomnote

BTTT!!


70 posted on 01/13/2020 5:50:20 PM PST by musicman (The future is just a collection of successive nows.)
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To: dayglored
Yeah, subtle but effective. :-) And that "2079" figure was true when Win10 first came out (about 3GB) but these days it would be more like 3500 floppies.

I'm looking around and trying to find documentation on exactly how thick they are. I would be interested in how big a stack that would be. A better real-world measurement would be to stack up 100 of them, measure it, then divide by 100. :-)

71 posted on 01/13/2020 7:00:45 PM PST by zeugma (I sure wish I lived in a country where the rule of law actually applied to those in power.)
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To: dayglored

L8r


72 posted on 01/13/2020 7:11:24 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: dayglored

Thanks for this info.


73 posted on 01/13/2020 8:48:01 PM PST by matthew fuller (America's Dark Age-2009-2016.)
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To: zeugma

https://www.fileformat.info/media/measurements.htm says 3.3 mm


74 posted on 01/13/2020 9:52:10 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: zeugma

So, roughly 11.55 meters, or a bit under 35 feet.


75 posted on 01/13/2020 9:58:17 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

So far it’s a nothing burger. Fired up a couple of Windows 7 machines with no problems.


76 posted on 01/14/2020 6:29:31 AM PST by McGruff
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To: McGruff

Your Windows 7 machines will continue to work. They don’t suddenly go silent. But that doesn’t mean all is well.

The “screwed” part is mainly about the diminishing security, because as more Windows flaws are uncovered, they will only be fixed for Windows 10. The Bad Guys will know that those flaws are unfixed in Windows 7, so with a little “reverse engineering” of the Win10 security update, they will learn another way to attack Win7 machines.

Secondarily, over time, applications and accessories (Microsoft’s and third-parties’) will stop working on Win7, because updates and new releases will only work on Win10. Microsoft will go out of their way to make Win7 an orphan, by pressuring other manufacturers to make their produces incompatible with Win7. There is a long, sordid history of that happening in the last two decades, with each new Windows release.

So, in summary, enjoy it while it lasts.


77 posted on 01/14/2020 8:43:02 AM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
So, roughly 11.55 meters, or a bit under 35 feet.

Awesome. You could probably fit it all into a box about the size of a twin sized mattress.

78 posted on 01/14/2020 10:11:12 AM PST by zeugma (I sure wish I lived in a country where the rule of law actually applied to those in power.)
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To: musicman

BFLR


79 posted on 01/14/2020 10:14:33 AM PST by musicman (The future is just a collection of successive nows.)
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To: Unrepentant VN Vet

I tried eM Client in the past but when an upgrade took place they took away the easy to use menu. After that, I ditched it.


80 posted on 01/14/2020 3:42:36 PM PST by ducttape45 ("Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34)
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