Microsoft announced that it will no more be supporting Windows 8. This is a move that has been in the works for a while. This is a major announcement, but it shouldn’t surprise users who have been paying close.
Microsoft announced in a blog post almost 2 years ago that Windows 8 support would end January 13, 2016. Users of this OS have the simple option to upgrade to Windows 8.1. Microsoft support will continue until January. 9, 2018.
What’s the deal?
Microsoft is not saying they are “ending support” for a particular service. They are actually saying they won’t be applying updates to that software. Because of the size of the OS, Microsoft must continue to work on it. Microsoft cannot predict every problem users may have with the OS, so programmers must continue to patch it.
This can often be translated to the general usability and functionality of the OS. However, many updates released by companies such as Microsoft are about security. Hackers are always looking to find vulnerabilities in software, especially Windows. These hackers exploit security holes in Windows’ security to their advantage. Microsoft must therefore close these holes to prevent future hackers from attacking innocent persons.
It might seem annoying to be reminded to update your computer regularly. This reminder to update your Internet browser is not meant to be annoying. It is simply trying to protect your information.
What happens if you don’t update your website?
Hackers love nothing more than reviewing old OS versions for security holes. People are slow to update and a large portion of the population is unwilling to make any changes because they are used to the way a system works.
Using outdated software is one way hackers can target you. Take a look at the 2012 cyberattack on Naperville’s municipal network. Officials from the Chicago suburb forgot to update the Web software used by the city, which led to a cyberattack of epic proportions.
After the dust settled Naperville spent $760,000 on investigations and updates to their cybersecurity system. Despite the fact that the hack cost Naperville a lot, the Chicago Tribune reported that the cyberattack used “very basic, off-the shelf tools.”
Although Naperville’s hack was caused by outdated Web software, rather than an entire OS, this principle is the same. You could be vulnerable to hackers if you don’t update your software. Hackers love the end of OS support. Many users will forget to update or refuse to do so. Cybercriminals see this as an opportunity to target anyone with obsolete software. Those concerned about their security should upgrade from Windows 8 as soon as possible.
End of support means that more people will upgrade to Windows 10
Microsoft is trying to remind everyone about the dangers of being behind, even though the end of support means bad news for users who refuse upgrades. In all honesty, there is no reason to not move on. Windows 10 is a free upgrade for Windows 8 users since a while, but they will need to upgrade to Windows 8 before moving to the latest Microsoft OS.
With this in mind, Windows 10 will soon be available on a wide range of computers that have stopped supporting Windows 8. It’s not unreasonable to believe that Windows 10 will soon be widely used, judging by the positive reviews. It remains to be seen if Microsoft will reach its goal of Windows 10 running across a billion devices in the next few years. But the point is that Microsoft and its wide range of software aren’t going anywhere soon.
This will depend on how much Microsoft-based training you have. If Windows 10 continues to grow in popularity, then having Microsoft certified training will prove extremely useful. Windows 8’s end of support is going to bring in new users. To stay ahead of the curve, you should now get a Microsoft certificate.
New Horizons is your one stop shop for all your Microsoft Certified training needs. New Horizons offers courses in everything Microsoft Office and more technical aspects like Azure and Windows Server to help you make the next big step in your IT career.
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Microsoft Ends Support For Windows 8
