Windows 7 will start harassing users with full-screen notifications as support period ends

Windows 7’s lifespan is almost over, with the OS’ extended security support coming to an end on January 14th, 2020. After this date, all but a minority of Professional users will stop receiving security updates for the OS, with updates being exclusive to those who purchase “Extended Security Update” (ESU) coverage. 

This change means that Windows 7 users will need to transition to Windows 10 to retain security support for their systems, and Microsoft plans to do whatever it can to ensure that Windows 7 users update their systems. That’s right, Microsoft plans to update Windows 7 with a “full-screen notification” that will ask Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10. 

Microsoft’s Windows 7 notifications will describe to users the “risk of continuing to use Windows 7 Service Pack 1 after it reaches end of support on January 14, 2020”. Basically, Microsoft plans to scare Windows 7 users into upgrading their systems, except for Windows 7 Professional users with ESU coverage. These notifications will impact Windows 7 Starter Edition, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional (non-ESU) and Ultimate users, giving notifications to practically all consumer-grade Windows 7 systems. 

When it comes to security, Windows 7 users should consider moving to Windows 10 in the near future, as after January 14th, Microsoft is leaving their legacy Windows 7 OS open to exploitation. If hackers discover an exploit, Microsoft won’t patch their OS to mitigate it, making systems forever insecure.