Microsoft stops support: Windows 7 becomes a "ticking time bomb"

As of today, almost a third of the computers in this country will have to get by without the protective hand of Microsoft. The software giant is discontinuing support for the popular Windows 7 operating system. Many private users and especially companies could soon become victims of security gaps.

Experts warn of Windows 7 as a "ticking time bomb for private users and companies" – but Microsoft's outdated operating system is still widespread. Around 30 percent of all PC users still use the software dinosaur. This is based on calculations by the security company ESET. As of today, Windows 7 will no longer be supported by Microsoft free of charge. In addition, the group is also discontinuing support for two server operating systems.

"Anyone who continues to use the three dinosaurs must expect serious consequences for the security of their data or their company," said security expert Thomas Uhlemann from ESET. "If the regular security patches are omitted, security gaps that have become known are no longer closed." Companies and organizations can buy a grace period from Microsoft and continue to purchase paid updates. Private users, on the other hand, no longer have access to the security updates.

The Berlin city administration is one of the public institutions that did not manage to switch to a modern operating system in time. In December only just under two thirds of the 82,000 IT workstations there had been converted to Windows 10. Experts assume that the state of Berlin will have to spend a six-figure sum on a separate support contract in order to keep the workstations that have not yet been converted running.

Companies and authorities not only run a higher risk by ignoring the end of support for Windows 7 because it makes cyberattacks easier. According to expert assessments, they also violate the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The EU directive requires that the "state of the art" be observed when processing and using personal data. Companies as well as doctors or lawyers who process and store personal data are acting contrary to the GDPR if they continue to use Windows 7 or Server 2008, says Uhlemann. "In the case of data theft of personal data, the fine by data protection officers will be correspondingly higher. Insurance companies could then refuse to provide benefits."

The end of Windows XP led to Trojan attacks in 2017

Windows 7 came onto the market over ten years ago on October 22, 2009 as the successor to the unsuccessful Windows Vista and was used by PC manufacturers until 2014. The successor, Windows 8, also had difficulties starting and did not convince many users. This is why many companies in particular remained loyal to Windows 7 even after 2014. Although Windows 7 is generally considered mature, more and more security holes have recently been discovered in the aging system. In 2010, only 64 vulnerabilities were found in Windows 7; in 2019, the number reached a peak with 250 officially registered problems.

With the end of free product support for Windows 7, under unfavorable circumstances it could run as it did when support for Windows XP ended. In 2017 the encryption Trojans WannaCry and Petya attacked the PCs where the "EternalBlue" vulnerability had not been patched. This led to failures in British hospitals, and Deutsche Bahn computers were also affected. Windows XP hadn't been updated for three years, so the remaining XP installations were particularly affected.

One man seems to have defied this danger to this day: Vladimir Putin. In December last year, photos were made public showing the screen of his work PC. Soon the first recognized the XP design and a possible explanation came up: Windows XP was the last operating system that was classified as safe. It would therefore be illegal to store state secrets on computers that run successor systems. Russia wants to convert its administration to its own operating system in the long term and use servers from the Russian company Yandex. Putin also passed a law that should enable Russia to be separated from the global Internet.

Now, however, even those users who are better equipped with Windows 7 than the Russian President are likely to be at risk. The security researchers at ESET fear a new wave of attacks after the end of support: The weak points in the system, which will no longer be repaired free of charge in the future, could facilitate cyber attacks. Malware developers have already programmed malicious codes specifically for known Windows vulnerabilities. "The switch to a modern operating system is inevitable for companies and private users," said Uhlemann. "Cyber ​​criminals are just waiting to exploit security holes in Windows 7 that are no longer closed. The continued high number of users promises big loot."