software security

January 1 2020

Say Goodbye to Windows 7

jcs@jesterscomputers.com PC Tips, Security, Security & Safety, Tips and Tricks, Windows 7 malware, security hole, security risk, security updates, software security, viruses, windows 7, windows 7 end-of-life

By Aysë Stenabaugh

On January 14th, 2020 Microsoft ended extended support for the popular Windows 7 operating system. Those who’ve already upgraded their Windows 7 machines won’t be affected by the end of support, those who haven’t should highly consider either upgrading or replacing their device. While you cling to your good reasons not to switch, we are going to give you reasons why it’s time take the dive.

Security, security, security, it can’t be said enough. Just because you CAN continue to use your device, doesn’t mean that you’re able to do so safely. Of course, this doesn’t mean that when January 15th rolled around, that every Windows 7 machine still on the internet was accessible by hackers BUT, it does mean its potentially much easier to gain access to your device. You see, when a company releases a product they typically intend on supporting that product, whether it be the physical hardware or the software on that device for a limited amount of time, and for good reasons. With new products coming out every day, resolving issues between old hardware and software and new hardware and software get increasingly difficult as time moves on. To ensure that the best quality of support is provided, there has to be a cut off date.

Updates that were once received by Windows 7 devices which provided bug-fixes and critical security patches are no longer going to occur. This also means that there will be no performance improvements or features added to the OS. If they haven’t already, software companies will discontinue support for Windows 7 as well. Ending support for older products and software helps to ensure that new innovations will get the majority focus.

Support for products that you use with Windows 7 will cease to exist and you may have limited resources available if you run into issues. This change won’t happen overnight but it will happen and users who rely on software for business will either be unable to get support for issues or if offered, pay a hefty premium for limited support. In the long run, bringing your hardware and software up to date will oftentimes be more cost–effective than prolonging the inevitable.

Learning about new hardware or software is frequently what prevents people from switching to Windows 10. Keeping your hardware and software up to date can seem costly but you have to consider a few important things. First, when old hardware or software is broken or not functioning right, productivity is decreased. Second, updates software can include features that can alleviate issues currently faced that can’t be resolved with unsupported software. Lastly, the learning curve may not be as bad as you think, when you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 the majority of the programs that you currently use will continue to work and function the same way. The most obvious changes to Windows 10 are cosmetic and don’t affect normal use.

Now that we covered the shortcomings of continuing to use Windows 7, it’s important to consider if you should upgrade your current computer or replace it altogether. We get this question a lot, to facilitate understanding let’s consider this analogy; when your car gets a flat tire, do you replace the car or fix/replace your flat tire? Most of the time a flat tire isn’t a reason to junk a vehicle unless of course there is an underlying issue. Similarly, if there’s not a significant reason to ditch your device and it meets the requirements for Windows 10, weighing out your options is a good idea. One major consideration should be your existing software. If you upgrade your device compatible software will continue to work if you purchase a new device your software will need to be re-installed which may require the original disc or license.

Technology can be scary but it doesn’t have to be! At Jester’s Computer Services we pride ourselves on gauging our customer’s experience and needs to provide the best recommendations. In addition to offering upgrades from Windows 7 to Windows 10, all customers unfamiliar with Windows 10 receive a mini one-on-one tutorial to help answer questions you may have when using Windows 10 for the first time. Visit www.jesterscomputers.com to access our free tutorials, tips and tricks! We can be reached at (717) 642-6611, on our Facebook page or visit us at the shop located at 5135 Fairfield Road Fairfield, PA 17320.

December 1 2019

5 Good reasons to upgrade your old software!

jcs@jesterscomputers.com PC Tips, Security, Security & Safety, Tips and Tricks, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP live mail, microsoft works, office 2003, office 2007, office 2010, QuickBooks 2017, security updates, software features, software security, software support, software versions, update software, upgrade software, windows 7, windows 7 end-of-life, windows vista, windows xp

By: Aysë Stenabaugh

We rarely come across people who are excited about change when it comes to computer software. So, it’s no easy task telling customers that they have no choice but to upgrade their software. Sometimes the reason is purely because of security, such as the case with Windows 7 as end-of-life support approaches in January. While we may not enjoy it, there are several good reasons that you should get your software up to date. Here are just a few of those reasons followed by a few tips to make the process smoother.

Support for your software won’t last forever. While you may not ever have a need to call your software provider for support, that’s not the only thing that will eventually end. Eventually, development for the software will end. Your software provider will cease to release updates which can lead to lead to all kinds of problems found within this list as well as system instability and crashing.
Security may be one of the more obvious concerns and it should be taken seriously. Next year Windows 7 will be ten years old and after January 14th, extended support for the popular operating system will end. Without new security updates, users who choose to continue to use the OS are taking a huge risk because any new viruses or malware that are released will become a threat. Windows 7 is just one of many examples of the potential security risks of running outdated software.
The Functionality of older software is likely to be reduced as changes to your operating system and other software are made. If your expectations are for things to forever work good as new you will find yourself disappointed. As a rule of thumb, if the company that makes your software no longer exists or is approaching its ten–year anniversary, it’s time to think about new options.
Integration between software often requires support, if you have two independent programs that work together you may find yourself having difficulty completing tasks that once worked with ease. Hardware requirements need to be considered also, new hardware won’t always work with old software, and vice versa.
Features that you use may eventually no longer work as expected. More importantly, the new software will likely have many new features that make tasks you already do much easier. One of the reasons so many software companies updates their software so often is to add requested features and to fix issues to increase efficiency.

If you are using and need to continue to use any of the following programs, consider updating to a newer version if possible; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Microsoft Office 2010 or earlier (this includes Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), Microsoft Works, Windows Live Mail, QuickBooks 2017 as well as many custom-made programs that required older software to run or that were developed prior to Windows 8.

There are several things you can do to make updating or upgrading your software easier for you. First, you may think that putting off the inevitable for as long as possible will make things easier for you but it won‘t. Waiting longer than you have to, to bring your software up to speed can actually make things much more difficult. Sometimes upgrading your old software to a new copy of that software to another is not possible because too many changes in the software have taken place between versions. In those situations, you may not be able to open or use the data from your old programs.

Take your time to research what software you think you need and determine what software options are right for you. What worked for you before may no longer be the best fit for your needs. If you’re not sure what route to go consider asking a professional. Always backup any important data (in two places or it doesn’t count!) and save any important information when purchasing new software such as installation disks and serial numbers so that if you ever need to, you can re-install your software without having to re-purchase it.

If you find yourself needing help with your computer’s software or hardware, consider contacting Jester’s Computer Services located in Fairfield at (717) 642-6611. Our family will make sure that you receive the best advice and we will always focus on your needs while delivering friendly service! We offer one-on-one technology classes as well as in-home services. Visit our website at www.jesterscomputers.com or follow us on Facebook to receive important technology news, tips, and special offers.