Microsoft Ending Windows 7 Support In Jan 2015

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Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) recently cut support for Windows XP three months ago and now has plans to drop support for Windows 7 early next year.

Microsoft announced plans to drop support for Windows 7 operating system

Microsoft made the official announcement early this month. The company also announced it was ending support for Windows Server 2003 and Office 2010. The personal computer operating system maker generally offers mainstream support for five years after the release. This includes feature updates, security updates, and performance enhancements. Beyond that period, Microsoft extends support which may include free security fixes however customers still have to pay for other types of updates.

Support for Windows 7 will end on January 13, 2015 but Microsoft will still offer free security patches until 2020. Microsoft will end support for Windows 8.X on January 2018. These cut-off dates effect potential PC buyers who find themselves tempted to wait for April 2015 when the next operating system release Threshold debuts.

In January, Microsoft will also drop support for Windows Server 2008/ 2008 R2, Exchange Server 2010, NAV 2009, NAV 2009 R2, Dynamics C5 2010, and Windows Storage Server 2008. Within the next few months, Microsoft will drop support for Windows Phone 7.8 mainstream support.

Security bulletins updates

Yesterday, Microsoft also announced six security bulletins that include versions for all Internet Explorer and Windows. The first patch within the current batch includes one that was designed to resolve publicly disclosed vulnerability as well as twenty-three privately reported vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. Another patch corrects a vulnerability in Windows Journal. This particular problem could allow remote code executive if a user makes a special crafted journal file.

Other notable vulnerabilities addressed in the bulletin include a vulnerability in Microsoft Service Bus that could allow denial of service, vulnerability in Ancillar Function Driver which could allow elevation of privilege, and a vulnerability of on-screen keyboard that could allow elevation of privilege.

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