About 1 week ago, on the 14th of January 2020, support for Windows 7 has officially ended. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, software updates and most importantly security updates or fixes. 

<center>![Windows 7 End of Support](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/culgin/NflKMRdl-image.png)</center>
*[Source](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information)*

Though you can technically still use Windows 7 for now, you are potentially exposing your PC to future vulnerabilities and malware that Microsoft is not obliged to fix. Hence, it will be a good idea to upgrade to a newer one, such as Windows 10.

<center>![What can you do?](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/culgin/mG1hGuMv-image.png)</center>
*[Source](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information)*

The "easiest" way to upgrade is simply to buy a new PC. Since Microsoft ended sales of Windows 7 in 2014, your PC must be at least 5 years old if you are still running Windows 7. Hence, it might be a good time to purchase a new PC. However, if your PC is still new, you may want to perform an in-place upgrade following this [guide](https://pureinfotech.com/upgrade-to-windows-10-from-windows-7/).

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### One quarter of Windows PC are still on Windows 7

According to [StatCounter](https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/worldwide), about 26% of Windows machines are still running Windows 7. This is based on statistics in December 2019, so it should still be quite accurate.

<center>![Market Share by Windows Version](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/culgin/EWlmbDDB-image.png)</center>
*[Source](https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/windows/desktop/worldwide)*

What is most worrisome and astonishing is the fact that there are still 1.3% of Windows PC running Windows XP! [Microsoft ended support for Windows XP since 2014](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-windows-xp-support) and a number of vulnerabilities had been discovered since then.

<center>![Windows XP Vulnerabilities](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/culgin/zkswGGEm-image.png)</center>
*[Source](https://www.cvedetails.com/product/739/Microsoft-Windows-Xp.html?vendor_id=26)*

When will people ever learn to always patch and upgrade their systems to a secure version? Unpatched systems are the [main reasons for most data breaches](https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities---threats/unpatched-vulnerabilities-the-source-of-most-data-breaches/d/d-id/1331465) and it is the basic thing to keep ourselves safe in this increasingly dangerous virtual world.

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This article is created on the Steem blockchain. Check this series of posts to learn more about writing on an immutable and censorship-resistant content platform:
- [What is Steem? - My Interpretation](https://steempeak.com/steem/@culgin/what-is-steem-my-interpretation)
- [Steem Thoughts - Traditional Apps vs Steem Apps](https://steempeak.com/steem/@culgin/steem-thoughts---traditional-apps-vs-steem-apps)
- [Steem Thoughts - A Fat or Thin Protocol?](https://steempeak.com/@culgin/steem-thoughts---is-steem-a-fat-protocol-or-a-thin-protocol)
- [Steem Thoughts - There is Inequitable Value Between Users and Apps](https://steempeak.com/@culgin/steem-thoughts---inequitable-value-between-users-and-apps)
- [Make my votes count! Use Dustsweeper!](https://steempeak.com/@culgin/make-my-votes-count-use-dustsweeper)
- [What caused STEEM to get dumped? Why I think the worst might be over](https://steempeak.com/steem/@culgin/what-caused-steem-to-get-dumped-why-i-think-the-worst-might-be-over)
- [Steem 2020 is about having a "SMART U"](https://steempeak.com/@culgin/steem-2020-is-about-having-a-smart-u)