Originally announced in 2020, Microsoft will cut off Windows 7 and 8.1 from security updates and technical support on January 10th, marking the launch of Microsoft Edge 109 — the last version to support Windows 7 and 8.1. Google has also announced that Chrome will end support for Windows 7 and 8.1 on February 7th. It was estimated as recently as 2021 that there are still around 100 million devices running Windows 7; this leaves little time for owners of machines still running these operating systems to make changes before they lose access to essential security updates and new features.
When Microsoft Edge 109 is released, along with a series of other software updates for these platforms, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for computers running Windows 7 or 8.1, leaving them open to potential attacks from hackers or malware creators who exploit known vulnerabilities in the aging operating systems. Additionally, WebView2 — a tool used by developers to embed web-based content into apps — will no longer be supported after this date either, meaning any apps using it may stop functioning as intended on these platforms as well.
For enterprises still running devices on these outdated operating systems, there is no time to waste preparing for their retirement from mainstream use – especially since Chrome’s endpoint of February 7th is quickly approaching! To ensure that they can stay secure and compliant with industry standards and regulations, businesses should begin migrating their devices to a more up-to-date version of Windows as soon as possible (Windows 10 is currently recommended). This may involve changing hardware configurations or purchasing new machines depending on an organization’s particular needs; however, making these changes now can help avoid costly data breaches or compliance violations down the line due to unsupported operating systems being in use at an enterprise level.
The end of official support for Windows 7 and 8.1 is fast approaching – leaving many enterprises scrambling to update their machines before it’s too late! Although both browsers (Microsoft Edge 109 and Chrome) will continue working after this date without security updates or new features being provided by either vendor, organizations who want their devices protected against potential attacks must act now if they haven’t already begun migrating their machines over to a newer version of Windows such as 10 or higher before it is too late! Taking advantage of Microsoft’s modernization programs can help reduce costs associated with updating hardware while ensuring that your organization always remains secure and compliant with industry standards going forward!
