If you’re still running Windows 7 on your personal computer or on your organization’s network, you might have heard the warnings about your privacy and security. If those didn’t faze you, you might have some arguments why it’s still safe to run Windows 7 in 2021. We’re here to debunk three of those arguments right now:
1. If my computer is running normally, that means it’s secure
False! Just because your computer runs just as well as it always has, doesn’t mean it’s safe to use. Performance and security are not tied together — your PC’s hardware might be in fine form, and Windows 7 might be coded to run just fine on that hardware, but there is an invisible gap in security.
It’s like if someone broke the seatbelts in your car. Sure, the vehicle runs just as well as it always has — there’s no problem with the engine, the breaks, or the steering. But there’s nothing protecting you in the event of a crash.
Windows 10, on the other hand, has frequently updated “seatbelts.” We recommend you buckle up.
2. If apps (like Chrome) still support my computer, that means it’s safe to use
While Microsoft abandoned Windows 7 support for many of its own apps, there are still apps out there that continue to support the OS. Google Chrome, for example, is a go-to browser for Windows 7 hold-outs. However, just because an app offers updates on your OS, doesn’t mean it’s secure. Google isn’t updating Chrome on Windows 7 because it believes the OS is just as safe to use as Windows 10 — the company just knows there are still too many users to abandon at this time. Soon enough, even Google will cut support for its apps and services, and so will other developers.
For those developers that don’t, they won’t be updating apps for a secure operating system.
3. The chances of a serious security breach are too slim to matter
Microsoft hasn’t supported Windows 7 for over a year. In that time, security vulnerabilities have been discovered and exploited without any help from Microsoft security updates. In fact, according to CVE Details, there are currently 1,283 Windows 7 vulnerabilities out there, 350 of which score at least a 9/10 or higher on how serious the issue is.
Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to wreak havoc on your system and your information. If you’re an organization or business, you have an even bigger target on your back — hackers love to attack networks running Windows 7 because there’s a large pool of unprotected systems ready to be manipulated. Don’t be one of them — upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible.
