Official support for Windows 7 has ended
Quite frankly, we should all stop using Windows 7. There’s no good reason to still use it now, especially if you go online. Official support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020. Therefore, there will be no more security updates from Microsoft, and given the nature of the internet, the risk of getting a malware infection will increase dramatically.
Third-party security
Having said that, many security vendors will continue to support Windows 7 for a while. The list below is from av-test.org:
| Manufacturer | Support Information |
|---|---|
| AhnLab | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| AVG & Avast | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years – further details… |
| Avira | Support ends in November 2022 – further details… |
| Bitdefender | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years – further details… |
| BullGuard | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Carbon Black | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| ESET | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| FireEye | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| F-Secure | No end of support announced, at least until December 2021 |
| G Data | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Ikarus | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Kaspersky | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| K7 Computing | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| McAfee | No end of support announced, at least until December 2021 – further details… |
| Microsoft (Security Essentials) | End of support for program updates, still offering only signature updates (without an end date) – further details… |
| Microworld | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| PC Matic | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Quickheal | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Seqrite | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| Sophos | Support on-premise until December 2020, Cloud-managed until June 2021 |
| Symantec / NortonLifeLock | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| ThreatTrack / Vipre | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years |
| TotalAV | No end of support announced, at least 1 year |
| Trend Micro | No end of support announced, at least another 2 years – further details… |
Official OS support from Microsoft has ended. If you’re still using Windows 7, consider upgrading or changing to Windows 10, buying a new Windows 10 computer, or using a different operating system altogether.
Windows 10 is good and continues to improve. You can also help with its development by being a Windows Insider.
For more info about Windows 7 now, refer to this page at Microsoft:
Support for Windows 7 has ended
Do you think people should stop using Windows 7? Are you enjoying Windows 10? How do you hope Windows 10 will change or evolve?
Let us know in the comments.
See also:
- Free security apps for Windows
- Windows 7 has 1
yearmonth left - Second opinion anti-malware apps
- Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
- What’s new in Windows 10?
- Windows 10 tips for beginners
- Computer Maintenance
I’m a longtime PC enthusiast. I love talking about computers and seeing other people enjoy theirs. I live in Japan as an English teacher (and vegetable farmer). When I’m not aspiring to be a better blogger, I play Apex Legends.
