Microsoft has warned that the end is indeed night for users stuck with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Support for Windows 7 ends in 2020, but Microsoft realizes that many companies are perfectly happy where it is. For a fee, it made available Extended Security Updates (ESU) that at least handled security patching.

Released in 2009, Windows 7 has outlasted its successor, Windows 8, but now it’s time to say goodbye. If Windows is your thing, Microsoft will be happy to point you to 10 or 11. There are plenty of alternatives these days, certainly compared to 2009.

Another stick used by the Windows vendor is the Microsoft 365 Everywhere suite. With the last release of Windows 7 ESU on January 10, 2023, support for Windows 8.1 and Microsoft 365 apps running on junk code (including Windows Server 2008 R2) will stop receiving security updates.

“Furthermore,” Microsoft said“New installations of Microsoft 365 apps will be blocked on Windows 8.1 devices.”

Microsoft has long used its suite of apps to drive customers toward platforms that support them. In 2021 Get support for Internet Explorer Before the last attempt to kill the browser a few weeks ago.

Pulling security updates is a big problem. Some Microsoft icon is affected Bad weaknesses Over the years, the idea of ​​the company reducing security fixes may make some executives giddy. April report The Lanceweeper asset management platform showed Windows 7 sitting on 4.7 percent of PCs surveyed, while Windows 10 is still supported by more than 80 percent.

Microsoft’s announcement reminds customers living in the past that the clock is ticking. It may be Temporarily undo Planned to block Office macros last week as well Effervescent spots For unsupported Windows XP to avoid another WannaCry incident, but given the latest vulnerabilities, it would be a brave administrator to play chicken at the end of security updates. ®