To ask for an idiot guide to how to deal with Microsoft end of support for Windows 7 today

[Mammajay]

I just heard that Microsoft end support for Windows 7 today. We have one laptop, 7-8 years old, which we use for e online banking and emails but not much else ( no games,films). It says on Microsoft that from today it is not safe to use windows 7 for banking or emails. It says £120 to buy windows 10 but not recommended to put 10 on to older computers. It recommends buying a new laptop. So, is it safe to go online at all? Is it unsafe right now or will there be a lap over time? Is it safe just to check online banking? The lack of any notice and this expense straight after Christmas is very annoying!

To be honest, there’s nothing really new or special you need to do to use Windows 7 beyond its support window (which ends, as of January 14, 2020) pay more attention to the things you should be doing already. Keep your security software up to date. Keep all your other applications up to date. Be vigilant when opening emails.

I definitely wouldn’t be using it for internet banking. There will be no more security updates that would provide protection against spyware etc. If you have a smart phone can you use banking apps?

Agree with Miranda, it won’t be any less secure tomorrow than it is today, but if you call Microsoft with a support request they will tell you to go away, make sure you have anti virus and you should be fine

I hate microsoft...I have a laptop with XP on it and it is a very high spec machine (I do graphics work so need something powerful), but now I have to use it without connecting to the internet. I had really good antivirus software installed and within one day of XP support being switched off, was being bombarded with attacks. Bastards. I still use the XP machine as that's where all my expensive software are installed, and I am NOT buying all that again just because Microsoft are wankers.

I eventually bought a cheap piece of crud to connect to the outside world on, but that has Windows 8 so I expect that'll be the next to go...

Do you have excellent antivirus software installed? Not free software, but something you pay a little for that is updated at least daily? And where do your emails come via? If you use a free service (like hotmail or gmail), then it's unlikely to do a sweep of attachments to kill off anything suspicious. My emails come with my website, and the service provider catches everything, although I do still have norton installed and running.

If you don't have a stand-alone hard drive with all your digital photos and precious documents transferred for safe storage, do that ASAP. Back up anything special on this, then if your laptop is attacked, you still have them.

My fairly cheap 2008 laptop upgraded to 10 without any issues, if that is a worry for you?

(Are they not offering the free upgrade anymore?)

You could of course succumb to the scare tactics and upgrade. Digital and security specialist of 20 years + so advice is given from a position of understanding. Even with the most up to date version of windows you are at risk if you don't upgrade your anti v and open dodgy emails.

What you should have done was taken the free upgrade to Windows 10 when it was offered (everyone was offered if).

You should always, always keep everything up to date. Not doing so is why you’re struggling now, and I wouldn’t use an unsupported laptop to bank with.

If you're careful you're ok for the moment. Over time you'll find you can't get the latest anti-virus or browser updates etc. and that's really when you need to upgrade.

The free upgrade to Windows 10 ended a couple of years ago. However if you google it, there’s still a way to get it. Completely legit, just a bit of a loophole.

I certainly wouldn’t be using an OS that is no longer secure. People knew when the end date was (and it was a 10 year promise of support in 2009) so you don’t know what’s been prepared to attack computers. Just look at the poster above who had problems the day after XP support ending.

Some tech writers are saying there may still be a way to upgrade for free. See Option 3 here for example,

www.pcworld.com/article/3489876/windows-7-dies-in-a-months-time-how-to-move-from-windows-7-to-windows-10.htmlb

But I haven't tried this myself.

(geek head on)

There's always Linux Who doesn't like penguins ?

If you are just using it for online banking and emails buy a Chromebook?

Miranda I never open attachments to to emails and I have the free version of avast..is that adequate for safety? Thanks for the other replies. I didn't upgrade to windows 10 when offered free as I was worried about knowing how to use it. I dread new technology and don't understand much of the stuff on my laptop ( although I did try when I first got it!)

Install the Avast Secure Web Browser, it has a built in free VPN for internet banking.

Keep Avast up to date for as long as they issue updates.

Install Sandboxie and use it for web browsing. It wont work with Avast Secure Web Browser, so I suggest you also install Opera and make it your default web browser.
That way when you click the Sandboxie icon, it will open Opera by default. Opera also has a built in VPN.

Running Sandboxie and Opera through a VPN is going to slow your connection, but it will be safe for now, and drastically reduce your risk of infection.

Honestly, if you dress new technology get a Chromebook. Very simple and pretty secure without doing anything.

I agree with the people who suggest getting a Chromebook. You can get something half decent for cheaper than a half decent Windows laptop because it doesn't have all the bells and whistles. And it's hard to do anything wrong with it.

I got the free upgrade to Windows 10 a couple of years ago - laptop ended up going to a computer shop and getting it removed as Windows 10 caused a load of issues and problems...

I hate microsoft...I have a laptop with XP on it and it is a very high spec machine (I do graphics work so need something powerful), but now I have to use it without connecting to the internet.

Windows XP was released in 2001. Windows 7 is 10 years old this year. Do you really expect MS to support such ancient OSs? What company offers support for as long as MS? Apple gives upgrades for their current OS and the previous two releases, which means that macOS Sierra - released in 2016 - is now unsupported. Most Linux distros are worse than MS, too; for example, Ubuntu 14 (released 2014) is no longer supported.

I just got my laptop back today from a shop who did it for me. This is after I started getting a blue screen and had no idea we were supposed to upgrade. My laptop is atleast 5 years old.

Most Linux distros are worse than MS, too; for example, Ubuntu 14 (released 2014) is no longer supported.

You need to pick the LTS releases.

And in any case, Linux simply doesn't have the security holes Windows does to start with.

You pays your money (well, with Linux, it's free) and you takes your choices. It seems a little bit fuzzy thinking to worry about security and Windows 7 on the one hand, and use Windows on the other, since it's busy sending goodness knows what back to Microsoft. Even when you disable telemetry apparently.

Windows at work, Linux at home

@heartsonacake

I have a cheap HP that ran fine with Win 7 but simply doesn't have the memory to cope with Windows 10. I upgraded it and it is now basically useless, to the point where I bought a Chrome book.

Are you talking about Asus Chromebook..about £200+ ??

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-c202-11-6-intel-celeron-chromebook-16-gb-emmc-white-blue-10168528-pdt.html

Work be perfect for what you need.

Or how about a tablet? Most banks have an app (with additional security, mine needs my fingerprint to open).

Something like this would work www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/tablets-and-ereaders/tablets/lenovo-tab-e7-tablet-16-gb-black-10185478-pdt.html though the screen quality might not be the best.

I'd recommend installing Avast Premium Security for single device. It is compatible with Win 7 and provides an additional layer of security for next to nothing.