Microsoft Calls Time on Windows Vista

Microsoft has officially announced that it will end support for Windows Vista on April 11, 2017. This follows on from the end of support for the popular Windows XP in 2014. End of support means that from April 11, 2017, Microsoft will no longer release regular updates and security patches for Windows Vista.

What does this mean?

Without any security patches, Windows Vista will be vulnerable to cyber attack and it will therefore be unsafe to use after April 11, particularly if you use your PC for banking or internet shopping. If you own a PC running Windows Vista, now is a good time to think about updating it.

What options are there for me?

Windows 10 is Microsoft’s current Windows platform, and it is here to stay. In fact, Microsoft have a major update in the pipeline. This update will focus more emphasis on animations and visual effects, with the goal of creating a more aesthetically pleasing user experience. The new update, called Project Neon, is set to be debuted in May and released later this year.

If your PC is not currently running Windows 10, unfortunately you have missed the free update offer. However, depending on the hardware specification of your PC, it might be a better option to upgrade the machine entirely. Microsoft cite Windows 10’s minimum requirements as a 1GHz processor or faster, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of free hard disk space. Remember, these are minimum system requirements. If you would like a PC that runs fairly quickly, my recommendation would be that you at least double the minimum requirements. That means 2GHz processor or faster and 4GB of RAM or more.

How do I check my PC specification?

It’s actually really easy to do. On a Windows 7/Vista PC, click start > control panel > system and your specifications will be listed in the window. If you do own Windows 10 but feel your computer is a bit slow, the process is slightly different. Click Start > settings > system > about.

Your cyber security is so important

As was common around the Windows XP support deadline, some users do not feel the need to update or upgrade a PC that has served them faithfully for a number of years. Vista was a less popular operating system than XP and many of its users moved on to Windows 7 at its release. However, for those that are still running Windows Vista, it is crucial that they upgrade before April 11. A study by PwC in 2013 found that 63 percent of SMEs were attacked by an outsider in that year. Why make it easy for those outsiders to attack you?

Don’t leave yourself vulnerable – upgrade your Vista PC before April 11.