Nothing will happen to Windows 7. But one of the problems that will happen is, without regular updates, Windows 7 will become vulnerable to security risks, viruses, hacking, and malware without any support. You may continue to get “end of support” notifications on your Windows 7 home screen after January 14.
Is it safe to use Windows 7 after 2020?
Windows 7 can still be installed and activated after end of support; however, it will be more vulnerable to security risks and viruses due to the lack of security updates. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft strongly recommends that you use Windows 10 instead of Windows 7.
Can I keep Windows 7 forever?
Microsoft Security Essentials — my general recommendation — will keep working for some time independent of the Windows 7 cut-off date, but Microsoft won’t support it forever. As long as they keep supporting Windows 7, you can keep running it. The moment it doesn’t, you need to find an alternative.
How do I protect my Windows 7 from viruses?
Here are some Windows 7 setup tasks to complete immediately to make your computer more effective to use and safeguard against viruses and spyware:
- Show filename extensions. …
- Create a password reset disc. …
- Protect your PC from scumware and spyware. …
- Clear out any messages in the Action Center. …
- Turn off Automatic Updates.
How do I protect my Windows 7?
Secure Windows 7 after End of Support
- Use a Standard User Account.
- Subscribe for Extended Security Updates.
- Use a good Total Internet Security software.
- Switch to an alternative web browser.
- Use alternative software instead of built-in software.
- Keep your installed software up-to-date.
Is Windows 7 still popular?
If you drop Microsoft’s estimate of 1.5 billion users of Windows to just a billion (there are 1 billion active Windows 10 users), then Windows 7 is still on a massive amount of PCs. In reality, it could still be in use by more than 200 million devices worldwide.
What happens if I dont update Windows 7?
While you could continue to use your PC running Windows 7, without continued software and security updates, it will be at greater risk for viruses and malware.
Does Windows 7 have built-in antivirus?
Windows 7 does have some built-in security protections, but you should also have some kind of third-party antivirus software running to avoid malware attacks and other problems — especially since almost all victims of the massive WannaCry ransomware attack were Windows 7 users. Hackers will likely be going after …
How do I get rid of a virus on Windows 7?
If your PC has a virus, following these ten simple steps will help you to get rid of it:
- Step 1: Download and install a virus scanner. …
- Step 2: Disconnect from internet. …
- Step 3: Reboot your computer into safe mode. …
- Step 4: Delete any temporary files. …
- Step 5: Run a virus scan. …
- Step 6: Delete or quarantine the virus.
How do I run a virus scan on Windows 7?
Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials are powerful scanning tools that find and remove malware from your PC.
…
Use Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 7
- Select the Start icon, type Microsoft Security Essentials, and then press Enter.
- From Scan options, select Full.
- Select Scan now.
How long can I keep Windows 7?
Yes, you can continue using Windows 7 after January 14, 2020. Windows 7 will continue to run as it is today. However, you should upgrade to Windows 10 before January 14, 2020, because Microsoft will be discontinuing all technical support, software updates, security updates, and any other fixes after that date.
Can you still upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 for free?
As a result, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 and claim a free digital license for the latest Windows 10 version, without being forced to jump through any hoops.
Is there a free antivirus for Windows 7?
AVG Antivirus for Windows 7
Free. Windows 7’s built-in security tool, Microsoft Security Essentials, only offers basic protection — especially since Microsoft stopped supporting Windows 7 with critical security updates.