We're a month away from the "retirement" of Windows 7, but the number of users doesn't seem to be waning. Microsoft thus launches a campaign to invite to update system
In just over a month, to be precise on January 14, 2020, Microsoft will put an end to its Windows 7 operating system: no more updates will be released, not even the minimum security ones. Exactly the day after, on January 15, 2020, Microsoft will start a massive "awareness" campaign to make users switch to Windows 10.
Already in the past weeks users of the old operating systems, even those of Windows 8 and 8.1, have received pop-up messages from Microsoft with which they were warned of the risks of an operating system no longer updated. Now, however, Microsoft is getting more insistent: starting January 15, Windows 7 users will see a full-screen screen describing all the risks of continuing to use this out-of-date operating system after support ends. This is no longer an annoying but all in all tolerable pop-up, then, but a disturbing full screen.
Microsoft's warning: upgrade to Windows 10
In its online support Microsoft explains that the screen will appear to those who have installed the Start, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional (if the user has not purchased the technical support extension) and Professional versions of Windows 7 Service Pack 1. The notification will remain visible until the user takes an action: "Learn more," "Remind me later," or "Don't remind me again." Compared to the notifications already seen on Windows 8, then, the one coming to Win 7 will be far more invasive and will clearly have the purpose of making the user worry.
Why you should upgrade Windows 10
If Microsoft's methods are not exactly orthodox, the purposes are however justified: continuing to use Windows 7 even after the end of official support is actually dangerous. For us and for others, because if our PC gets infected with malware it can be used as a "zombie" in a botnet and, as a result, hackers can use part of our processor power and our Internet connection to bombard sites and servers without our knowledge. Among other things, there is a risk in the risk: with the end of support for Windows 7 will also come the end of support for "Microsoft Security Essentials" (MSE), the free antivirus included by Microsoft within the operating system. Microsoft, in fact, has clearly stated that MSE will no longer receive virus definition updates.