Am I Screwed If I Don't Upgrade Windows 7 by January 15? (*Spoiler*: Well, it depends...)

LifeHacker ^ | Jan 10, 2020 | David Murphy

[Bob434]

If all you are doing is browsing internet, email, doing some documents etc then windows 7 is fine if you follow some good practices to stay safe. Snapshots allow you to revert your computer to a time when it was known to be virus free should you end up getting a virus-

I would suggest though buying a very cheap laptop that you can wirelessly connect to internet router to do any type of banking online, or store purchases, like at amazon, walmarts or wherever- that will remain disconnected UNTIL you need to do the banking or purchasing online- On such a computer, you might want to run either windows 10 or linux which will be even safer-

On your main machine however:

[[it’s true that Windows 7 will be more vulnerable to attack]]

Solution = Virtual machine

another Solution = Sandbox

Another Solution = RollBackRX

all of these have the capability to create snapshots (IF you create them manually)- and restoring a previous known good state takes just a minute or two- so you can browse the net for months, with no issues, and if you do end up getting a virus, you can simply revert to a known good state- A good practice is to create a snapshot as soon as possible, then create more as each week, or couple of weeks goes by, and keep deleting the second oldest one (You wanna keep your first snapshot, as that will be the ‘cleanest one’, and will be a ‘last resort’ snapshot to go back to) as you create new ones- do try to only keep a few, a they can take up significant amount of room

Also- back up any important stuff that you create and want to keep- maybe store them all in a special folder so you can back up that one folder from time to time

[Moltke]

However, now that Microsoft won’t be releasing any more security updates for the operating system

Win7 was released back in 2009. 10 years ago. 120 months worth of "security updates". AND IT STILL ISN'T SECURE????

But the much newer Win10 is more secure? Yeah right...

OK, I just stopped giving a damn. Pale Moon browser + NoScript + VPN...give it your best shot, hacker scum.

[Bob434]

I don’t know if MS is still allowing free downloads of win 10, but you can use it without registering, you’ll just have a watermark and won’t be able to do minor stuff like choose your own background- Maybe they’ve changed that now, and won’t allow it to even work if you don’t register it? I have had it running in a virtual machine, unregistered, for a few years now, and it’s still working- I do though keep reverting to a previous snapshot within the VM- so that might explain it why it still works?

[MayflowerMadam]

Thanks so much for these posts. I’ll be going down your list and take precautions in the next day or two, since I plan to hang in there with 7.

[OrangeHoof]

I don’t trust Microsoft not to intentionally hose your Win 7 system if you are dumb enough to keep your Windows Update turned on. I’ve had my machine with Windows Update turned off since last April. I have updating anti-virus, anti-malware, firewall and VPN with so far no hint of anything nasty getting through to my machine.

I would advise two steps:

1) make a clean backup to an external source before tomorrow just to have a recoverable backup if needed.

2) if Windows Update isn’t already disabled, go to Control Panel —> System and Security —> Windows Update —> Let Me Choose My Settings —> Never

Be extra careful about clicking links, especially from emails. Hover over the link and look at the bottom of your window for the actual link address. If it seems in any way suspicious, don’t click on it.

I think you’ll be able to enjoy several more years of Windows 7 use before the technology eventually evolves past the capability of your machine but if you are primarily using your machine for sending/receiving emails, playing Win 7 compatible games or surfing internet sites (like FR), you should be fine.

Also, move off of Microsoft-owned browsers and email programs that will likely check the version you are on and demand you upgrade. And always be sure that your security programs (anti-virus, anti-malware and firewall) have loaded properly upon bootup before proceeding.

[discostu]

No. Just no updates. Of course given how often the updates make things worse. You’re probably better off.

[Cobra64]

Sky is falling! Get out now! Women and children hardest hit!

If you like your Windows, keep your Windows. I know people still on XP with no problems. Personally, I have one machine on 10, one on 8.1 and one on 7. They all work just fine.

[EVO X]

i disabled updates on W7 for most of my clients years ago because MS updates caused WAY more problems than they solved.

I've been retired for a few years from IT support so I am not current on all the issues other than supporting my own and family member's machines. That said, I've never been hacked following proper computing practices and doing updates in a timely manor. There are valid reasons not to do OS upgrades and updates because of cost or totally breaking a critical application. If I were to run a private consulting business, I would get it in writing that is OK the customer accepts the risk..

[lysie]

Bookmark.

[zeugma]

I really do love that graphic of the floppy. 'Disk 1 of 2079'. LOL.

I have a copy of Win7 that I run only as a VM. I haven't patched it in forever. Never use it for browsing. Is very occasionally used to do iTunes backup of my phone, but that's about it. Thankfully, disk space is cheap.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Some of these links will make it easier.

https://www.howtogeek.com/277448/how-to-make-windows-10-look-and-act-more-like-windows-7/

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/make-windows-10-like-windows-7

http://www.mediafire.com/file/d5llbbm8wu92jg8/ClassicShellSetup_4_3_1.exe/file

[DJ Frisat]

”I am still using VISTA as my main computer”

Oh, so YOU’RE that guy!

[Openurmind]

Samething... in fact this is the original source for Zorin and the “cinnamon” is the best.

https://linuxmint.com/release.php?id=31

[Openurmind]

Gee whiz, just get Linux and be done with all that junk forever... Why is everyone being so masochistic? Contrary to popular belief, it is not against the law to use something other than Microsoft and be rid of all these problems...

[dayglored]

> I really do love that graphic of the floppy. 'Disk 1 of 2079'. LOL.

Yeah, subtle but effective. :-) And that "2079" figure was true when Win10 first came out (about 3GB) but these days it would be more like 3500 floppies.

> I have a copy of Win7 that I run only as a VM. I haven't patched it in forever. Never use it for browsing. Is very occasionally used to do iTunes backup of my phone, but that's about it. Thankfully, disk space is cheap.

I have a Win7-64 Pro VM that I have kept patched (no more after tomorrow, of course), but I have copies of the VMDK in a couple different places for restoration in case of trouble.

Actually the same protocol for Win10. "Friends don't let friends install Windows on the metal."

[ducttape45]

My man!

[ducttape45]

Move off Microsoft-owned browsers and email programs

There are many non-MicroThief browsers to choose from so that one is easily accomplished. However, there aren't many (if any) non-MicroThief email programs that can do what Outlook does. I know people throw out Mozilla Thunderbird but even that can't do everything that Outlook does, unless I'm missing something.

Is there there any email clients out there that are worth a hoot and that can do what Outlook does.

[caww]

So am I!

[caww]

So am I!

[DiogenesLamp]

"Update to a more modern operating system by January 15, 2020, or you’ll never receive security updates ever again. Eventually, Microsoft will even start disabling key Windows 7 services."

These hostage tactics by Microsoft convince me that I need to move to Linux. I am *NOT* going to "upgrade" to Windows 10.