On January 14, 2020 (local time), technical support for the Windows 7 operating system ended as scheduled. At the dawn of January 15th in Korea's time, Microsoft (MS) released the last security update for Windows 7. However, some individual users and companies who did not prepare for the end of Windows 7 technical support faced an embarrassing situation. The main contents of Windows 7 use and security threats are summarized in Q & A.

Q1. Can't I continue to use Windows 7 after technical support is over?
One of the things many people are wondering is, "Can't I keep using Windows 7?" Speaking from the conclusion, you can write. However, there are various restrictions and risks.
Even after the end of support, the biggest problem when using Windows 7 is security. The end of Windows 7 support means that security updates will not be provided even if a vulnerability related to Windows 7 is discovered. As is well known, it is easy to be exposed to various cyber threats including malicious code such as ransomware when using a vulnerable operating system that has not been updated.

Q2. Is it okay to use Windows 7 with V3?
From the conclusion, it is difficult to respond to all security threats that may occur in Windows 7 with V3 alone. V3 is a security solution that detects and treats malicious code, but security threats caused by flaws in the operating system itself need to be corrected and supplemented by the operating system provider. This is why even the use of security solutions emphasizes the application of the latest security patches to operating systems and applications (programs).
Therefore, even if the latest malicious code or threat is detected and treated with V3, Windows 7, where the vulnerability of the operating system itself is not resolved, is likely to be continuously exposed to the threat.

Q3. How long will V3 support Windows 7?
AhnLab's products, including V3 currently in service, can be used according to the end-of-life (End of Service) of the product itself, regardless of whether the operating system ends technical support. However, some functions of the product may not operate normally depending on the characteristics of the operating system.

Q4. What to do if you are concerned about the security of Windows 7
It is the user's option to use Windows 7 even after technical support ends. However, since it is essential to apply and maintain the latest security patch on the system (PC) in use, it is recommended to replace with Windows 7, which is no longer supported, or upgrade to a higher version.

Q5. Is there any way other than upgrading to Windows 10?
Another way is to replace the operating system with Mac OS (OS X), Linux, or open OS. In Korea, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (Ministry of Public Administration and Security) is replacing the Windows 7 system used by public institutions with Windows 10 instead of upgrading it to Windows 10. “Open OS” refers to an operating system (OS) that is developed based on Linux, which is open source software, and discloses source programs.

However, if you switch to a different operating system, existing Windows users may experience some inconvenience in an unfamiliar environment. You should also consider compatibility issues between open OS and other programs and applications. Fortunately, major software companies at home and abroad are strengthening their compatibility with multiOS. In addition, some open OS vendors are able to selectively install and use the functions that were basically used in the Windows environment.

Q6. What should I do if I cannot upgrade immediately or replace with another OS?
If you can't upgrade to a higher version right away or replace it with an open OS, let's apply all the security patches related to Windows 7 distributed so far. Many malicious codes or cyber attacks use known vulnerabilities, so applying only all the deployed patches can help prevent damage.

For companies that find it difficult to check and act on multiple PCs individually, patch management solutions can be used to check and take action to apply Windows 7 security patches to enterprise systems. AhnLab EPP Patch Management not only allows you to check and take action on the patch status of all systems at once, but also provides the ability to easily apply security patches such as Windows 7 and Windows XP.

On the other hand, Mac OS and open OS cannot be free from malicious code like Windows operating system. These operating systems, like Windows-based systems, require basic security measures, such as installing antivirus programs. In addition to V3 products for Windows, AhnLab offers a variety of V3 products for multi-OS environments, such as V3 for Mac, a vaccine for macOS, V3 for VDI for a virtualized OS, and V3 Desktop for Linux, an open-only vaccine.