As many users have said that Windows 7 support will end in 2020,but you can use it even after EOL.All you need is a bit of knowledge and a common sense.Use it as far as you think you're doing the right job protecting yourself and as far as Windows 7 is compatible with your software.
Heck even my dad uses Windows XP every day on the internet ,no problems so far.
We have plenty time until 2020; a lot of stuff can and will happen!
Well, I'm also intending to use Windows 7 as long as possible. I certainly don't care for the 2020 end of support. This only means the end of updates. And in fact, this not necessarily so, since my XP machine still gets some security updates from time to time, even though it's way past EOL for it. In any case, I don't really believe those updates are actually crucial. Using a hardware firewall in the router and behaving sensibly around the internet provides just enough protection. For example, I am using the said XP machine specifically to download stuff from the internet. The hardware is already old and very slow, so it's not practical to use for anything else. For that reason I run absolutely no security software on it. I plan to retire it as soon as I get around to do that, but in the meantime, it does its job just fine and no malware is creeping in.
The real issue with keeping an OS far beyond the end of support is that eventually you'd need new hardware and there might not be any drivers for the old OS. I have recently bought an Acer laptop only to find out that they are not officially supporting Windows 7 on it, just 8 and now 10. So I had to manually search the Acer site for various drivers and helper software (the one that runs extra keys and so on) for a long time until I found stuff that works. But even though I managed in this particular instance, next time I buy a laptop - or indeed upgrade my main desktop - I might no longer be able to find drivers for Windows 7 and will have to get whichever OS will be current at that time.
That said, I see absolutely no reason to "upgrade" to W10 on my current desktop. I don't even know why anyone would call it an "upgrade" and I see absolutely no improvement in my user experience, while the UI is dumbed down and plain ugly.
I plan to use WIN 7 as long at least two of my five '7' machines keep running. I've tried '10' and neither Mrs. Gizmo nor I like it. I think that as long as I use any browser other than I.E. [and I DO use OPERA 34], and run the VM program "Sandboxie" I can/could safely run without ANY Microsoft Important/Critical Updates...which means that I could replace a HD or reformat these 'factory built' computers indefinitely........which is exactly what I intend.
Giz
One thing you can do is to download Macrium Reflect Free and make an image of your system each week. If one day you wake up and find Windows 10 icons all over the desktop, just restore the Macrium image and you are back with Win 7.
I suspect that will depend on how successful W10 is.
If W10 has 60% of the market in 2020, I suspect that most malware will be targeting it.
I didn't hear of a massive outbreak of XP malware after it went EOL, despite claims that "XP Armageddon" would occur within days of that event.
I did notice recently that MS has claimed that "W7 Armageddon" is about to happen to everyone who hasn't upgraded to W10 already.
Windows 7 is Unsafe according to Microsoft's Marketing Chief
Microsoft Warns Windows 7 Has Serious Problems
The only problems with W7 are the ones that MS is deliberately causing.
Last edited by lehnerus2000; 23 Jan 2016 at 19:10. Reason: Additional, Links Added
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