Security is a critical aspect for most PC users, and while some have already upgraded to a modern operating system, there are plenty of people still rocking their old-but-gold Windows 7 machines.
This, though, comes with significant risks that Google acknowledges. With that in mind, it will stop serving its popular Google Chrome browser to systems with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 starting in February 2023.
The decision aligns almost perfectly with Microsoft’s Windows lifecycle policy, as the Extended Security Update program ends on January 10, 2023, for Windows 7 and 8.1 operating systems. Windows 7 was an excellent choice when it came out in 2009, but four years later, Windows 8.1 suffered from many problems hindering its user adoption and making it a less exciting option for new computers. The Extended Security Update program from Microsoft reassures that older operating systems, like Windows 7 and 8.1, will still get security updates for a more extended period of time.
Regardless of usage, Windows 7 is an old OS, and many people transitioned to more modern and great solutions like Windows 10. Regarding market share, Google Chrome is undoubtedly one of the most popular web browsers, with a staggering 65%. For comparison, Apple’s own Safari has a market share of almost 18%, followed by Microsoft Edge with 4.32%. It’s worth noting that Edge, in its latest versions, uses the open-source Chromium engine that powers Google Chrome.
Google’s advice here is plain as day. You should upgrade your operating system to at least Windows 10 to continue enjoying all the latest security updates for Chrome. The upgrade process might be troublesome for some people, but verifying that you’re on a secure system has to be one of the most important things while using your PC.
For those who want to live dangerously, the last official Chrome version will still work on these operating systems, but this should be done at your own risk.