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Despite Windows 7’s official lifespan ending earlier this week, reports claim that the software may last a bit longer.
Microsoft apparently added UEFI and Secure Boot to Windows 7, potentially extending the life of machines still using the platform without worrying about a cyber-attack.
Secure Boot allows a computer to verify that the software and firmware drivers used at startup have been signed off by the manufacturer. The late addition to Windows 7 could be another sign that the platform remains a firm favorite for many business users who rely on the operating system to run certain office software.
Windows 7 Secure Boot
Although official support for Windows 7 ended in 2020, recognizing that many users in business and education were still using the operating system that first debuted in 2009, Microsoft opened an Extended Security Updates program in an effort to fix bugs in keeping the popular operating system at bay .
Fast-forward three years, and Microsoft has now ended that program, as of January 10, 2023, leaving many users wondering what to do and whether they should take the plunge and upgrade to a newer version of the Windows operating system.
According to figures from Stat counter (opens in new tab)Windows 7 accounted for 11.2% of all Windows installs at the end of 2022, making it less popular than Windows 11, which accounted for just under 17% of all installs, though the numbers suggest Windows 11 is just Windows 7 passed in terms of popularity in August 2022.
At the top of the charts, according to Statcounter, is Windows 10, which takes up more than two-thirds of the Windows market, while Windows 8 and 8.1 together only take up 3.26%.
Joining Windows 7 at the end of its life is Windows 8.1, which has never gained as much traction as its predecessor, leaving computer users who want regular security patches to choose between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Through Tom’s hardware