14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Vista is finally reaching end of life on April 11, meaning that systems that are still running it will no longer receive updates and security patches beyond this date.
Often considered to be Microsoft’s biggest flop in history, Windows Vista is only powering less than 1 percent of the PCs worldwide, which can only be good news for the Redmond-based software giant, as the transition to newer operating systems should go smoothly.
Back in 2014 when Microsoft discontinued Windows XP, the operating system was running on approximately 25 percent of the world’s computers, so killing it off was quite a challenge, as the decision left 1 in 4 computers vulnerable to attacks. Fortunately for everyone, Windows Vista is substantially less popular, so the end of support shouldn’t be such a critical moment for too many users.
Windows Vista reached end of mainstream support on April 10, 2012, meaning that the OS no longer received new features and improvements after this year. At that point, Vista entered extended support, which ends tomorrow, to receive security patches and keep systems running it protected against OS exploits.
Upgrading to Windows 10
Microsoft obviously warns users that their systems would no longer receive updates and security patches and says that upgrading is their only option. Without a doubt, Windows 10 is the operating system of choice for the company, as it’s not only the newest Windows version but also the one receiving extended support until October 2025.
“Without Microsoft support, you will no longer receive security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal your personal information,” Redmond says.
The last updates for Windows Vista will ship tomorrow as part of Patch Tuesday, so in case you’re still running this OS version, make sure that you start planning your transition to a newer operating system as soon as possible. The chances are that the number of attacks aimed at Vista systems will increase in the coming months, so upgrading helps you not become a target for cybercriminals worldwide.