Is it safe to use windows 7 in 2025?

[PersuasiveMedia]

Rethreaded but can i use windows 7 in 2025 because my concern is your PC will get hacked by turning on the router, but the video showcased from the windows XP video was just turning off firewall, is it safe to do it? Is mypal recommended for browsing?

 

[atikovi]

While it is true there aren't any security updates, standard anti-virus and security software still works. I have Microsoft Security Essentials, Maleware Bytes and CC Cleaner. I'm not worried about it. If it was an issue, I don't think any of my online banks would let me log in.

 

[flavallee]

I run Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit (is up to date to February 2025) in 4 of my 7 computers.
I use Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes and Piriform CCleaner for security and maintenance.
I use Mozilla Firefox ESR for browsing and on-line activities.
Except for an increasing larger number of apps and websites that no longer support Windows 7, it does fine for my uses.

Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 Build 19045 64-bit is also installed in these 4 computers.
I use it for more secure and sensitive on-line activities and with apps and websites that no longer support Windows 7.

Windows 7 will supposedly no longer receive security updates after January 2026.
When that time comes, I will switch over entirely to Windows 10.

 

[sluggerb]

If you have Windows Firewall turned on, and your PC is behind any consumer grade router without any port forwarding turned on, you are safe from 95% of attacks on the internet, even running no anti virus. Ever notice in all those YouTube "LOL WinXP Haxxored 3 seconds after going on the internet!" the first thing they do is disable Windows Firewall and plug the computer directly into an internet gateway?

If you run MSE, that will get you up to 96%

If you never click a link in an email, ever, that will get you 97%

If you make a standard non administrator account and only log into that when using the PC, you are at 99.9%

Also Win7 benefits from security through obscurity. Viruses and malware attacks are going to target the dominant OS in the wild, which is Windows 10/11. A lot of the exploits and 0-days being released won't even work on Windows 7 because they target Windows 10/11 specific OS files/configurations that Win7 doesn't have.

Almost all PC security depends on the user. Someone could have a fully patched fully updated Windows 11 PC with every anti virus program in the world running on it and fully updated and if they start browsing shady websites and downloading shady exe's and clicking yes every time they are prompted with anything, that machine is going to get infected. PC security is largely behavioral in nature, don't rely on technology to correct bad behavior.

 

[razorboy]

While it is true there aren't any security updates, standard anti-virus and security software still works. I have Microsoft Security Essentials, Maleware Bytes and CC Cleaner. I'm not worried about it. If it was an issue, I don't think any of my online banks would let me log in.

Eh? I thought that MSE was dead, and it won't update on my W7 machine. Perhaps I am missing something.

 

[atikovi]

Eh? I thought that MSE was dead, and it won't update on my W7 machine. Perhaps I am missing something.

Still working for me.

 

[RoWin7]

I run Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit (is up to date to February 2025) in 4 of my 7 computers.
Windows 7 will supposedly no longer receive security updates after January 2026.

There are still updates? Every time I try to install them, I get a message that they can't be installed.

 

[1600]

Still working for me.

Stopped working on both setup (desktop+laptop) the "Virus Update Definitions" on 27 February, a week ago. Real Time Protection is still ON.

Any insight? thought?

 

[sluggerb]

There are still updates? Every time I try to install them, I get a message that they can't be installed.

That error message seems to be displayed after the updates are installed. I get that error message but then MSE shows the latest virus definitions ARE installed. I think someone in some thread somewhere found that the installer was giving that error cause it was trying to access an old webpage and the URL doesn't work anymore, but that happens after the definitions are actually installed so it's a false error

Stopped working on both setup (desktop+laptop) the "Virus Update Definitions" on 27 February, a week ago. Real Time Protection is still ON.

Same thing happened to me, you can go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/defenderupdates and manually download the update and run it and it updates to the latest version. I do not know if that is needed every time from now on or if the auto update will work in the future. Time will tell.

 

[1600]

Thank you very much! that link did the job! time will tell if the "auto-update" will be restored,
But we do have the solution of yours. Thanx one more time!

 

[RoWin7]

There are still updates? Every time I try to install them, I get a message that they can't be installed.

That error message seems to be displayed after the updates are installed. I get that error message but then MSE shows the latest virus definitions ARE installed. I think someone in some thread somewhere found that the installer was giving that error cause it was trying to access an old webpage and the URL doesn't work anymore, but that happens after the definitions are actually installed so it's a false error

I'm using an icon in the taskbar. I don't know if it's from MSE. I no longer know where the updates are coming from, as I haven't used the icon in years, and it's grayed out. They say they're installing, and to restart the computer. When I restart, it says they can't be installed, and it undoes all the changes. Is that what you're referring to? I no longer remember where to access MSE.

 

[sluggerb]

What does the icon look like?

 

[RoWin7]

It's the regular update icon, but it's always grayed out.
I didn't know there were still updates, but it says there are 2 important updates and 42 optional updates. Don't know if the important ones installed or not. I've forgotten where to look for the list.

 

[Bree]

Eh? I thought that MSE was dead, and it won't update on my W7 machine. Perhaps I am missing something.

There are still updates? Every time I try to install them, I get a message that they can't be installed.

Stopped working on both setup (desktop+laptop) the "Virus Update Definitions" on 27 February, a week ago. Real Time Protection is still ON.
Any insight? thought?

MS seen to have changed something on the update servers, and MSE now can't find any AV update beyond 1.423.125.0. This fix restores MSE's ability to auto update and find the latest definitions.

Microsoft Security Essentials Acting Strange - post #19

 

[RoWin7]

MS seen to have changed something on the update servers, and MSE now can't find any AV update beyond 1.423.125.0. This fix restores MSE's ability to auto update and find the latest definitions. Microsoft Security Essentials Acting Strange - post #19

What do I do with that .bat file?
EasyFix link produces a blank page for me. My browser is r3dFox.

 

[Bree]

What do I do with that .bat file?
EasyFix link produces a blank page for me. My browser is r3dFox.

Forget about the .bat. You just need to run MicrosoftEasyFix51044.msi. Get it from Microsoft here:

Easy Fix
To add the DefaultSecureProtocols registry subkey automatically, click here. In the File Download dialog box, click Run or Open, and then follow the steps in the easy fix wizard.

Update to enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 as default secure protocols in WinHTTP in Windows - Microsoft Support

 

[patternbuffered]

What do I do with that .bat file?
EasyFix link produces a blank page for me. My browser is r3dFox.

The page is blank because it's about to prompt you to download a file. Give it a minute and the prompt should come up:

 

[RoWin7]

Forget about the .bat. You just need to run MicrosoftEasyFix51044.msi. Get it from Microsoft here:
Update to enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 as default secure protocols in WinHTTP in Windows - Microsoft Support

I don't get a file download page. The "click here"on the EasyFix page produces nothing

 

[Bree]

I don't get a file download page.

The direct download link MS gives for the EasyFix is:

https://download.microsoft.com/download/0/6/5/0658B1A7-6D2E-474F-BC2C-D69E5B9E9A68/MicrosoftEasyFix51044.msi

 

[RoWin7]

The direct download link MS gives for the EasyFix is:
https://download.microsoft.com/down...F-BC2C-D69E5B9E9A68/MicrosoftEasyFix51044.msi
That produces a blank page. Maybe because I'm using an unconventional browser, r3dFox. I downloaded it in Chrome, and installed.

So this makes the OS more secure? Is anyone still writing viruses for Win 7 ?