Officially withdraw from the stage of history: Microsoft Win7/8.1 ends support today and will no longer get security updates

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens Daniel Wu in South China, Guild Group, Rain and Snow on the way, EdgeOS, Xiao Zhancou's clues delivery! CTOnews.com, January 10 (Xinhua)-- Microsoft's Windows 8.1 operating system is finally coming to an end after nearly a decade. Starting today (January 10, 2023), Microsoft will no longer provide software updates, technical support or security patches for the operating system.

Microsoft will release the last security update for Windows 8.1 in a routine update on Tuesday. Windows 8.1 does not receive the same Extended Security Updates paid extension security update treatment as Windows 7, so after the last security update is released, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 8.1 and users can continue to use it, but Microsoft or anyone else will not fix the security issue. As the operating system no longer receives security updates, the system will become more vulnerable to viruses, blackmail software, and other security threats.

Meanwhile, Microsoft will release its last security update for Windows 7 on Tuesday, but commercial companies will continue to provide paid updates after that. 0patch, ACROS Security's third-party security platform, will support Windows 7 for at least two years. 0patch is free for personal, non-profit education and testing, and companies will have to pay $25 a year. Windows 7 was released in October 2009, ending mainstream support in 2015 and extension support in 2020, then Microsoft launched ESU, allowing paid subscriptions to security patches.

As of December 2022, 2.59% of the world's PC was still running Windows 8.1, according to Statcounter. If your computer is one of them, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free using the current Windows 8.1 key. You can also upgrade to Windows 11, but due to the strict system requirements of the operating system, the device may not support the upgrade.

CTOnews.com has learned that support for Windows 10 will end on January 14, 2025.