Although Windows 7’s official lifecycle ended earlier this week, there are reports that the software may be around for much longer.
Microsoft has apparently added UEFI and Secure Boot to Windows 7, potentially extending the life of machines still using the platform without fear of cyberattacks.
Secure Boot allows a computer to check that the software and firmware drivers it starts using are signed by the manufacturer. Its later addition to Windows 7 may be a further sign that the platform remains a favorite of many business users who rely on the operating system to run some productivity software.
Windows 7 Secure Boot
While official support for Windows 7 ends in 2020, recognizing that many business and education users are still using the operating system that debuted in 2009, Microsoft has opened up a program of Extended Security Updates in an effort to stop bugs in its popular operating system .
Fast-forward three years, and Microsoft has now ended the program, as of January 10, 2023, leaving many users now wondering what to do and whether they should bite the bullet and upgrade to a newer version of the Windows operating system.
according to numbers statistics counter (opens in a new tab)by the end of 2022, Windows 7 will account for 11.2% of all Windows installations, making it less popular than Windows 11, which accounts for less than 17% of all installations, although the data shows that Windows 11 only surpasses Windows 7 in 2022 Popular in August.
Topping the list is Windows 10, with more than two-thirds of the Windows market, according to Statcounter, while Windows 8 and 8.1 combined account for just 3.26 percent.
Joining Windows 7 at the end of its lifecycle is Windows 8.1, which has never gained as much traction as its predecessor, giving computer users who want to install regular security patches a choice between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
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