Windows 7 16172i Windows 8.1 to Stop Receiving Security Updates, From January 10

Microsoft will not offer an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1. 653o1q

Written by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 5 January 2023 15:13 IST

Windows 7, Windows 8.1 to Stop Receiving Security Updates, From January 10

Photo Credit: Reuters 3v6d2p

Microsoft announced the end of for Windows 7 in 2020

Highlights

Microsoft Edge browser will continue to function on these devices
Devices running Windows 8.1, Windows 7 to have high online security risks
Microsoft suggests replacing the device with a newer model

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Microsoft will discontinue security updates and technical for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 on January 10. The announcement coincides with the release of Microsoft Edge 109, the last edition to the outdated operating systems. Although the browser will continue to function on these devices, no critical security updates or new features will be provided. for WebView2, a tool that allows developers to incorporate web-based content into their apps, will also be discontinued on January 10.

However, Edge isn't the only major search engine abandoning Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Google announced in October that Chrome for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 would end on February 7. Devices running Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 will be increasingly vulnerable to bugs, malware, or other online security risks. Furthermore, these PCs will be unable to obtain the company's most recent functions and features.

The deadline gives s with devices still running Windows 7, estimated to be around 100 million as recently as 2021, some time to upgrade their machines or face the security risks associated with using an outdated operating system and browser. A Lansweeper survey of 27 million Windows systems conducted last October discovered that more PCs were running Windows XP, 7, or 8 than Windows 11.

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2020. Only those who paid for an extra three years of extended security patches will receive updates.

“Microsoft will not be offering an Extended Security Update (ESU) program for Windows 8.1. Continuing to use Windows 8.1 after January 10, 2023, may increase an organization's exposure to security risks or impact its ability to meet compliance obligations,” the company said.

The Extended Security Update (ESU) programme is a last recourse for customers who need to continue using legacy Microsoft products after they have reached the end of . It contains critical and important security updates for up to three years after the end of extended for the product. This implies that Windows PC s who still have devices running the Windows 8.1 operating system will no longer receive critical security updates to protect their PCs and data from cyber threats.

If one owns a device that runs Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, now is a good time to install Windows 10 or 11. If that isn't possible, Microsoft suggests replacing the device with a newer model before January 10 to prevent any potential security issues.

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Sucharita Ganguly

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Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More