08/05/2020
Well folks, it’s serious now. If you are still using Windows 7, please call us today to see what your options to upgrade are. Read this press release given today:⠀
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The FBI says computers running Windows 7 systems are now in greater risk of getting hacked due to a lack of security updates.⠀
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"The FBI has observed cyber criminals targeting computer network infrastructure after an operating system achieves end of life status," the agency said.⠀
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"Continuing to use Windows 7 ... may provide cyber criminals access in to computer systems. As time passes, Windows 7 becomes more vulnerable to exploitation due to lack of security updates and new vulnerabilities discovered.⠀
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"With fewer customers able to maintain a patched Windows 7 system after its end of life, cyber criminals will continue to view Windows 7 as a soft target," the FBI warned.⠀
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The Bureau is now asking users to look into upgrading their workstations to newer versions of the Windows operating system.⠀
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However, in some cases, the PC's underlying hardware may not support the (free) upgrade to a much more powerful system like Windows 10, a challenge that the FBI acknowledged in its alert, citing costs that companies might need to support to buy new hardware and software.⠀
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"However, these challenges do not outweigh the loss of intellectual property and threats to an organization," the FBI said -- suggesting that companies should keep an eye on the bigger picture down the road and how future losses from possible hacks might easily outweigh today's upgrade costs.⠀
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The agency specifically cited the previous Windows XP migration debacle as an example of why companies should migrate systems as soon as possible, rather than delay.⠀
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"Increased compromises have been observed in the healthcare industry when an operating system has achieved end of life status. After the Windows XP end of life on 28 April 2014, the healthcare industry saw a large increase of exposed records the following year," the FBI said.⠀
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Weaponized Windows 7 vulnerabilities already exist⠀
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Furthermore, the FBI also cited several powerful Windows 7 vulnerabilities that have been frequently weaponized over the past few years.
Check what version of Windows you have:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13443/windows-which-version-am-i-running