Today marks the end of mainstream support for Windows 7. With all the attention given to the end of support for Windows XP last year, it is probably easy to get confused about what exactly happens today. As far as basic users are concerned, the end of mainstream support means very little. The end of extended support (which is what occurred with XP last year) is much more important to note.
Mainstream support primarily involves non-security updates and the ability to request new features and changes. So, if you haven't asked Microsoft to add a new feature to Windows 7, it's too late! Microsoft may add a few more non-security updates, but the majority of these updates will cease after tomorrow.
With mainstream support ending, Windows 7 now enters extended support. During extended support, Microsoft will continue to send out security updates and offer paid support. When extended support ended for Windows XP last year, security updates stopped (unless you paid Microsoft a very hefty sum of money to continue support). This is why I--along with many other experts--recommended that you no longer use an XP computer, or at least not use one for sensitive data.
You will not notice any changes with your Windows 7 computer today. Your computer will continue to function as normal, and it will still be as secure as it was yesterday. The date for the end of extended support for Windows 7 is still a few years away: January 14, 2020.
No comments:
Post a Comment