browser security

By Aysë Stenabaugh

To maximize security and performance it is recommended to always use an operating system that is supported – meaning that your device will continue to get important updates. Last month’s article focused on the end of support for Windows 8.1, this month a new challenge arises for users who have yet to migrate to Windows 10 or 11. In the next few weeks, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users will no longer be able to use Google Chrome or Edge.

Lack of support for Chrome and Edge on these platforms will mean that users can no longer browse the web safely. To be clear, it was already not very safe for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to be online. Now these web browsers will no longer send updates to unsupported operating systems which leaves them vulnerable to new threats. Not only that, but many secure websites require up-to-date web browsers to function and provide a secure connection.

Many websites require a secure connection. Shopping websites and banks are prime examples These websites have layers of security that your up-to-date web browser can communicate with to keep your password and personal data safe. When a computer’s operating system and web browser are no longer up to date the security certificates required for these websites to operate can no longer function as expected.

For now, there are some options for users on older operating systems to continue to access the internet. Firefox has yet to announce dropping support for Windows 7 and 8.1 devices despite having already extended support for Windows 7 once before. While Mozilla has not yet announced their end-of-life support for Firefox it is rumored that they will drop Windows 7 32-bit support before they end support for 64-bit versions of Windows 7. The truth is that Firefox and any other remaining browsers that are supporting Windows 7 could cease to work at any time.

Some Windows 7 and Windows 8 users may be able to upgrade their devices to Windows 10 if they meet the minimum system requirements. Windows 10 will continue to be supported until at least the fall of 2025 which can buy users some time before shopping for new computers. Windows 11 has more strict hardware requirements than Windows 10 does, many devices compatible with Windows 10 won’t be compatible with Windows 11 and will need to be replaced in 2025 unless Microsoft extends support further which they have done in the past with Windows 7.

In the end if nothing else this should be the final push for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to make a decision on how to proceed in order to safe use the internet. If you find yourself weighing out your options of upgrading your PC versus purchasing a new one it may be beneficial to contact a trusted friend or computer support specialist to help you make the right decision. As challenging as users may find it to be to change with technology it is often for the better. With supported operating systems comes the ability to use supported hardware and software which can minimize system conflicts and increase device support.