What you need to know
- Windows 7 support finally came to an end today.
- To mark the occasion, Databarracks gave Windows 7 a true Viking sendoff.
- We'll see you in Valhalla, old friend.
Windows 7 had a good run, but Microsoft officially dropped support for the aging OS today. That means no more security updates (unless a company pays to have them extended), and it marks the end of an era. But with such a popular OS finally kicking the bucket, it deserved a proper sendoff.
And that's just what IT security and cloud company Databarracks did with its proper Viking funeral. Check it out below.
"It's a bit of fun, but there's a serious message we want to highlight. Staying up to date with operating systems and patching is the simplest and most important security practice to follow," Databarracks said in a press release. "There are countless examples of cyber-attacks and breaches that could have been avoided simply by staying on top of important software updates."
For those of us who follow Microsoft and Windows, Windows 7's end of life is a bittersweet moment. The OS brought a number of great features to the table, including window snapping and an evolution of the Aero aesthetic. Moreover, it marked a significant step forward from the maligned Windows Vista.
For businesses that still plan to continue using Windows 7, Microsoft is offering paid extended security updates through 2023. However, it's priced on a per-device basis, and the cost will continue to rise with each passing year. For now, the safest bet is to push forward to Windows 10.
As for Windows 7, we'll see you in Valhalla, old friend.
Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the Editor in Chief for Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. Got a hot tip? Send it to daniel.thorp-lancaster@futurenet.com.
