Security News

Steam is no longer supported on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 as of January 1, with the company recommending users upgrade to a newer operating system. "As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems," reads the support article.

The risk of running obsolete code and hardware was highlighted after attackers exfiltrated data from a UK supplier of high-security fencing for military bases. The initial entry point? A Windows 7 PC. While the supplier, Wolverhampton-based Zaun, said it believed that no classified information was downloaded, reports indicated that attackers were able to obtain data that could be used to gain access to some of the UK's most sensitive military and research sites.

Valve announced that its Steam online game platform will officially drop support for the Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 platforms starting January 1st, 2024. Once it reaches the end-of-support date, the Steam Client software will stop working on these out-of-support Windows versions, with Valve recommending users to upgrade to a more recent Windows version to continue playing their games via Steam.

Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise editions will no longer receive extended security updates for critical and important vulnerabilities starting Tuesday, January 10, 2023.The Extended Security Update program was the last resort option for customers who still needed to run legacy Microsoft products past their end of support on Windows 7 systems.

Microsoft Edge will drop support for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 after the release of version 109 on January 12th, 2023. The decision to no longer provide Windows 7 / 8.1 support for Edge users almost perfectly aligns with the end of support for Windows 7 Extended Security Update and Windows 8/8.1 on January 10th, 2023.

Google announced today that the Google Chrome web browser will likely drop support for Windows 7 and 8.1 starting February 2023. After support is discontinued for these two Windows versions, the company says Chrome users must ensure that their devices are running at least Windows 10.

Microsoft has warned users clinging to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 that the end really is nigh. Windows 7 went out of support in 2020, but Microsoft recognized that many enterprises were quite happy where they were.

Microsoft says Windows 7 recovery discs created using the Control Panel Backup and Restore app will fail to start after installing Windows updates released since January 11, 2022. While Microsoft did not explain why this happens, it said the recovery discs would work on systems where the problematic updates weren't installed.

Microsoft has announced that the OneDrive desktop application will reach the end of support on legacy Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 starting with January 1, 2022. "In order to focus resources on new technologies and operating systems, and to provide users with the most up-to-date and secure experience, beginning January 1, 2022, updates will no longer be provided for the OneDrive desktop application on your personal Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 devices," the OneDrive Team said.

Looking back at the end-of-life saga that surrounded Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 will give businesses a clear idea of what they need to do in the next four years. Both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 ceased receiving support and updates from Microsoft in January 2020.