Just my opinion, but I think this is complete nonsense. I've been an equities investor for 20+ years now, currently all of my financial transactions, i.e banking, brokerage, online shopping are all handled on a computer running Windows 7. And these are all associated with an e-mail account who's password hasn't been changed since it was initially set up about 35 years ago.
I
really hope this is a personal thing and not you handling some clients.
Yes, anti-virus software is a good idea, but it's not actually your best line of defense.
Correct. But still a necessity.
You have to understand that if your private information is going to be compromised it's most likely going to be in one of three ways.
1. You yourself are actively going to download and install a piece of malware. (So just exercise some caution in what programs you download and install. Most legitimate sources will have already checked their files for malware, so you can be very confident that it's safe)
2. You're going to get spammed by a piece of email telling you to click on this, or verify that, or you're the lucky millionth shopper. (So simply ignore email from people that you don't know. Having separate email accounts for different purposes is very helpful for avoiding spam)
3. The most likely way that your information will get hacked is because some business to whom you've given it will get hacked. Be it your bank, or somewhere online that you shop, or where you pay your phone bill. (Unfortunately you can do absolutely nothing to stop this beyond being very judicious about who you give your information to)
4. Software you're actively using but haven't updated (such as Windows 7 or Office 2010) will have a major security flaw that isn't patched because support ended years ago.
5. Someone on a network you're connected to is infected (or a threat actor) and your computer is attacked through a major security flaw that isn't patched because support ended years ago.
6. You share storage devices with people or other computers and accidentally initiate a payload through a major security flaw that isn't patched because support ended years ago
All in all, you're just as likely to get hacked on Windows 10 as you are on Windows 7. The only difference is that Windows 10 may be a tiny bit better at defending itself against the latest versions. Unfortunately Windows 10, (due to its cross platform design) also leaves itself open to more lines of attack.
That is definitely not true. Windows has a lot of flaws and threats (largely because the most commonly used OS platform is most commonly targeted, go figure), but Windows 10 is
far more secure than 7. Microsoft have even recently started hardening more potential holes (which is causing issues in itself, but that's not unexpected) that will leave you even further behind if you're still using 7.
If all that you're going to use your computer for is checking your email, posting to CF, and surfing Yahoo!, or CNN, or YouTube, then you really needn't be concerned, a lack of updates isn't going to affect you one bit.
This just patently isn't true. It's the equivalent of not bothering to lock your doors, take care of your valuables, or be mindful when you're walking home at night because a determined enough threat will do harm to any degree.
Corporate cybersecurity is part of my living; there are so many
major vulnerabilities and potential threat vectors even from every day used software like Adobe Reader, Chrome and Office. Oops, you opened the wrong PDF and your AV didn't catch it? Guess someone in Russia now has your 35 year old e-mail address and password.
Have iTunes or something that installs Bonjour? Your computer firewall now has open ports and someone standing on your e-porch greeting every single person that walks by.
Oh, that dormant keylogger used a hole that wasn't patched in W7? Guess they now have your banking details.
Seriously, the upgrade from 7 is free, 10 isn't really that different (and in most cases is generally
more stable) and
not upgrading because it looks different or you don't like change, or you heard from your best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend who heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who said that it's a huge downgrade from 7... is just asinine.
Now I get messages that after Jan 14, 2023 Windows 7 will no longer be supported. Google also reminds of the same thing.
