Windows 7 is dead: How to stay as safe as possible after the security updates stop - allenequir1996

Windows 7 is one of the best things Microsoft e'er released. The some-adored in operation system wooed back users who reviled the disappointing Windows Vista, and IT remained a comfortable asylum during the even bleaker Windows 8 era.

Even today, with Windows 10 fixing Windows 8's worst mistakes and standing American Samoa a superior desktop OS of its own, a legion of vocal PC enthusiasts swears by Windows 7. Why? Because IT stays out of your way, and it just works.

Until today. Along January 14, 2020, Microsoft ends Windows 7's extended underpin. Windows 7 is exsanguine.

Your PC will keep operating, of course. Microsoft isn't literally pulling the hoopla on your devices. Just Windows 7 won't receive any more updates or security patches, meaning your PC will too be very vulnerable to all those nasty malware programs garnering headlines seemingly every day. If you restrain using Windows 7—and over a quarter of altogether computers run it, per NetMarketShare—you're along your own, and the Internet can get nasty.

We can help you stay as safe as possible, though.

windows 10 homepage on microsoft — Upgrade to Windows 10 or Linux if you can.

Protrusive with Windows 7 is not an option

Earnestly: Switch away from Windows 7 by whatsoever means necessary. That's our underlying recommendation. Sticking with Windows 7 was understandable before; now it's a indebtedness. With no security updates and a still-vast market share, Microsoft's operating system leave be a big, juicy butt for hackers.

We recommend migrating to Windows 10 if you'rhenium able to, and have a template explaining your Windows 10 promote options. If you perform entirely basic tasks connected your PC—email, web surfing, and documents—past Linux is a viable, drug user-friendly option these years. We've got a Linux beginner's guide, too, and better yet you stool essa it free of charge with zero risk to your main Windows 7 installation. You can believably nevertheless upgrade to Windows 10 gratis, too.

But if you need to bide some time before making a trade, here's how to keep Windows 7 as safe as feasible.

Don't habituate Internet Explorer

pcw firefox primary resized — Firefox is a secure modern web browser that still supports Windows 7.

A lot of malware gets delivered via browser vulnerabilities, and a whole lot of those will be aimed at Windows 7 now that it's wide open to attack. Microsoft's ending support for Internet Explorer too, and you definitely don't want to run an unsecured browser on an unlocked OS.

The other top web browser vendors will bear on to support Windows 7, still. Google's Chrome is popular, but Opera beat information technology out in our best browser comparison, and Firefox is great, too (remember to update Firefox to avoid a recently revealed vulnerability). Switch to one of those—whatever leave do, honestly—and piddle sure to enable automatic updates to keep those hatches battened down. This should be a top priority.

Choose your software wisely

That segues to a distinguish point: Make a point the software you'rhenium using still supports Windows 7, then that any potential security holes still suffer patched.

Aft browser vulnerabilities, poisoned Office documents are another frequent attack vector. If you're even using Office 2007, catch—its support ended years ago. Office 2010 will continue to receive protection updates direct October 13, then you have a little time on that point. Microsoft will actually continue to support Government agency 2010 for the close three years (until January, 2023) if you subscribe to Office 365. If that's not in your budget, check proscribed our list of the unexcelled free Microsoft Berth alternatives for other no-cost options, such as LibreOffice and Google Docs.

Java, Flash, and Adobe Reader are commonly targeted arsenic well, thus make a point they'Re upbound to date if you need them. You might not, though. I was healthy to live my online life sentence amazingly healthy without them seven long years past, and it's even easier today, though information technology's hard to substitute some of the meatier features in Reader. Kick Flash and Coffee to the AMEX and only install them if needed. They're in their twilight years.

Scrutinise all your installed software, including browser nag-ins. If you don't use information technology, ditch it. Many standalone programs extend an option to update automatically to newer versions as they're pushed out. Activate it.

Install antivirus software

antivirus hub — Lock belt down your PC with antivirus

The escaped antivirus that Microsoft offers for Windows users works groovy for most users, but it North Korean won't receive updates now that Windows 7 is death-of-life. Yes, Windows Security Essentials is departed too. Now that your operating scheme won't receive security patches it's even many crucial to run protection on your PC. That expired version of McAfee that came with your computer isn't releas to cut it.

An activated version might, though there are better options. Well-nig security measur suites will continue to financial backing Windows 7 for a while, and our guide to the best antivirus suites for Windows can avail you find your best option. While you can cobble together an arsenal of atrip security tools, we recommend buying a insurance premium variant if you'rhenium still running Windows 7. Modern security measures suites behave much much than antivirus alone, protecting you against phishing, malicious ads, browser and netmail attacks, and more. If you're running an unsupported operative system, investment in a rounded-out certificate suite is money well spent.

Norton Security Premium is the best pick for nigh people right now, but you have options. Once more, check out our guide to the best antivirus to imag every last the security mathematical product's we've tested. Be sure to check your chosen program's Windows 7 support cycle in front you buy, though. (Norton still whole kit and boodle with Windows XP, even!)

Batten down the hatches

Cybersecurity > A mysterious and intricate padlock with complex circuits

Hackers can't hack what they can't touch. Follow this pro tip from our old Windows XP safety primer:

"Blackball being purely disconnected, if there's a respective lean that could makeany Windows PC more insure, it's this: Stay away from administrator accounts. If you're blasted by malware, it can but fare as much price as the account it infects. Admin accounts give baddies the keys to your computing land.

Once [Windows 7] stops being patched, stick to victimization a Standard account for your day-to-sidereal day activities if at all possible. Use an admin account to create the locked-go through login and stock it with the computer software you need—keeping our old syllabu advice in listen—and then don't stray from Limited country unless you need to install or update software. (And symmetric so, just stick in the admin account for as long as is dead obligatory to get the installation cooked.)"

You can go even further though. If your Windows 7 figurer doesn't need to connect to the Internet, physically disconnect it from the Internet. Pull the ethernet plug right come out of the closet, or disable Wi-Fi.

Alternatively, if you only need legacy Windows 7 support for a program or ii, you can run Windows 7 in a virtual machine on a modern, supported operating system, be it Windows 10 or some flavor of Linux. (Again, moving off of Windows 7 as much as possible should be the goal.) If the essential machine gets compromised, you buns just wipe IT and start over, with no scathe to your main installation. Just make sure you'rhenium backing up the Windows 7 data and then you can replace any's lost.

Even off with all these precautions in situ, your PC tail end get pwned if you tell malware to hail in. Use safe browsing practices to avoid being fooled into downloading malware by phishing attempts, malicious emails, fake updates and error warnings, drive-aside downloads operating room other tomfoolery.

It's not specific to Windows 7 security, but make predestined you'rhenium financial backing up your information and victimization a password manager, too.

Make plans to go down on

Windows 7 was great while IT lasted, just now it's kaput. While these tips wish help you keep using the OS for longer, running an unlatched OS in today's hyper-connected worldly concern is inviting problem. Start thinking about your future options, whether it's snagging a unbound Linux distro, trying for a free Windows 10 upgrade, or straight-skyward buying a newfound Chromebook or Windows laptop. When the next catastrophic germ rears its manoeuver, you don't want to be left in the lurch.

Equal careful out in that respect.

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