Late last year, Google announced that Chrome will no longer be supported on Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1.
Their newest version of Chrome (Chrome 110) is set to be released on February 7th. This newest version will be the first to require you running Windows 10 or later to continue receiving Chrome updates.
This is big news, with Chrome being the leading internet browser in the world – holding a global market share of nearly 66%.
What does this mean for me?
If you run these older versions of Windows, you will still be able to use Chrome. However, you will no longer receive security and features updates, or be able to install the latest versions of Chrome.
This is important, and we’ll explain why.
Why you should update your operating system
With updates come improvements in security and other Chrome features. The security of your browser and by extension, your device, should not be taken lightly.
As we’ve discussed in previous articles, cyberattacks are on the rise in Australia and don’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
For example, a release from the Australian Parliament disclosed a report that estimated an 82% increase in ransomware-related data leaks from 2020 to 2021. Moreover, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, there was a cybercrime report every 7 minutes in Australia between July 2021 to July 2022.
The same report offers a list of recommendations, of which the first is to “update your devices and replace old devices that do not receive updates.”
What should I do?
The answer is quite simple – update your device to a newer version of Windows.
While you may be able to use a different browser, our recommendation is to upgrade your operating system.
If you use an older device that you are concerned will not be able to handle a newer version of Windows – the truth is, it’s probably time to upgrade.
But – upgrading doesn’t need to be an expensive ordeal. In today’s market, there are countless very affordable devices that can support the latest versions of Windows.
And believe us – the cost of a new device is far cheaper than dealing with the cost of a ransomware attack or similar security breach.