Windows 7 and 8 operating systems will stop receiving critical security updates starting tomorrow (Tuesday), January 10. However, the Chrome browser will continue to work on these computers – but they won’t receive critical security updates or new features.
The information security company ESET stated that “although the old applications and operating systems do not stop working immediately, they become a significant risk as soon as malicious parties find vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Without important system updates, the devices may be the target of dangerous attacks aimed at harming users and information.”
“It is very important to switch to supported operating systems as soon as possible. It can be a nuisance for a small moment, but it is completely easier and simpler than what would happen at the moment of an attack,” the company stressed, “although Microsoft has informed sufficiently in advance about its intentions to end support, but it is nevertheless It makes sense that millions of people will forget or simply reject this update. The update process is not complicated and it is better to do it than to fall for a cyber attack.”
Eli Levin, CEO of ELPC Networks LtD, which specializes in information and cyber security, stated that “in light of the very high costs of upgrading these dedicated systems, the owners of the companies choose not to upgrade and sometimes it is not possible to upgrade due to the lack of support for the dedicated systems or the machines connected to these computers.” He further added : “But for this issue it is recommended to implement compensatory controls that will reduce the risk of using these systems. It is recommended not to keep products without their product updates in the organization, since keeping them increases the attack surface and may cause the organization a lot of damage.”