Risks of continuing using Windows 7

Soldato
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What are the real world risks of continuing to use Windows 7, my dad has a couple of pcs with legacy software that cant be upgraded, so excluding using virtual machines etc or taking them offline. If they are protected with Malwarebytes Premium are they pretty safe? or is it only a matter of time before they get something nasty.
 
Malwarebytes premium on its own isn't enough
Should have anti virus too
And a good firewall

But never mind 7 load of people still run xp
And nothing connected to the Internet is ever 100% safe
Even latest Windows 10 fully patched
Happens sometimes as an example isps send out modems and routers that have security flaws to very large amounts of customers
So no matter how vigilant you were your isp could have left you wide open
Well known UK one years ago used mac addresses on the router to calculate the WiFi password as an example of stupidity from an isp
New flaws get found all the time in hardware, browsers etc

Malware Bytes Premium is Antivirus & Antimalware according to their website? will soon be changing the Asus Router to a Cisco Small Business Router which will be managed by a Business ISP
 
I see Malwarebytes offers Malwarebytes for teams under the buinsess section which is anti virus and malware pricing started at 3 pcs
 
Work is backed up onto a NAS Drive. this in turn runs backup to a USB Hard Drive. the NAS is synced to Onedrive for Business, but I need to check this is still syncing ok.

I will upgrade the Malwarebytes to the business version. All Online Banking is done from an up to date Windows 10 PC
 
There is no excuse to still be using Windows 7 after today. I don't care who you are, or what you do. Poor horizon scanning.

Remember the NHS wannacry fiasco.

If my team of three can move 4,000 machines from 7 to 10 which contains huge amounts of old software and/or legacy hardware devices anyone can! Hell, whilst we were at it, we also moved over to part zero terminals and VDI/AppV where possible so that in 18 months when Windows 10 version xxxx goes end of life we can easily and quickly upgrade.

The technology exists to make life easy. Most of our PCs were 10 years old and all kind of makes and models. We managed.

My comment may seem a bit harsh, but it's more for the senior leadership team not the IT dept. In very special cases, you can pay Microsoft for extended support but my take on it, is that they've had years of warning so what's going to change now which could not have done years ago?

I hear excuses like 'special software', ok...fair enough, but they should have been looking/researching/developing years ago if they intend to stick with Windows. It was the same excuse with XP. Microsoft made it very clear when the support ran out. Amazingly our local university hasn't even started a windows 10 upgrade project! Then again, most of their servers are 2008 and unpatched lol

Unless cyber threats isn't high on the priority list for a company, they can't cry when they get hacked.

Anything can be achieved with the right amount of resources.

The problem with this software is will only run on Windows 7 32 bit. Its no longer made and their isn't an affordable alternative. basically it was a few hundred pounds. The equivalent now is a few thousand pounds and subscription based and doesn't do as much as the old software (in the same situation). So there has never been a real reason to upgrade.

.. I will add that I have already warned him if the PCs die hardware wise I wont be able to re-build windows 7 on a newer PC. I also wont be able to install the older software anyway as it wont activate. At some point will have to bite the bullet. I will do the processes I mentioned about AV and Backups. and Re-iterate that he needs to find viable alternative product asap

oh and office365 will give up at some point too as that wont be supported. eventually his hand will be forced
 
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Most of the sites of been reading this evening, are saying get off 7 asap if you can. if you cant make sure you have both Anti Virus & Malware and keep updated, make sure MS Office is still downloading patched ie office 365, use either Firefox or Chrome and keep updated, and do not use internet Explorer at all (although I don't think anyone uses IE anyway). Also remove the admin rights from day to day user accounts. So I can do all this, but still need to tell my Dad this should be temporary and needs to find replacement software asap. They do have a windows 10 PC each as well just this one piece of software wont work on anything but win 7 32 bit. I could try making a VM and say if youmust use it work in the VM Bubble
 
Sorry lot of info in this thread must have missed it
What's the one problem software?

Its a Bolt on Architectural Package, Called Architect 2000 then will only work with upto AutoCAD 2009 and Windows 7 32 bit, it was specifically deisgned for the UK Architect Market and nothing as good has been made since that I can find. It draw all the walls door windows, cavity walls, breaks the walls automatically etc. has lots of small detail drawing librarys built in. Everything available is geared at the American Market or simply doesn't do it.. AutoCAD architecture isn't as good and costs 10 times more
 
If it's a really good classic piece of software that's still useful today
Is it possible there could be an enthusiast group for it?
Like some of the old games perhaps, some clever people have modded some of those to work on later operating systems

I actually spoke to the developers, they still exist but have made a new software package and standalone, we tried and didn't want to be rude, but I was basically crap. They wanted it to work with new AutoCAD but ran into problems with Autodesk and licensing. They tried to help to get it to work on windows 10, but it was problems with the coding of the Activation software. So I did try...
 
Is this of any help?
If I am on wrong track don't be scared to call me an idiot lol
I am not very good on my phone need to be on my pc
If I got right idea but not quite right details they have a whole blog full of solutions

https://blog.longbowsoftware.com/in...it-on-windows-7-windows-8-and-windows-10/amp/

Nice try.... but its the 3rd party bolt on that's the Issue, AutoCAD is easy to replace with a newer version even if it was AutoCAD LT, I had tried longbow and it worked for AutoCAD but im still stuck with the 3rd party. ive spent man hours trying to get it to work even on windows 8.. I can only donate so much time as I have my own job to do , which takes up 12 hours of my day
 
No worries mate, appreciate the assistance. will still be upgrading the Malwarebytes to the business version this weekend anyway
 
if you're having this much problem w/ a piece of ancient software, I find it hard to understand why you're not taking the hint, especially for a business. The situation isn't going to get any better for you. you'd be far better off biting the bullet and looking for something new. I know little about architecture but I can't imagine in an area that wide that there's only one way-out-of-date indy app that does something no one else can. Why not look at something like Blender, that's 100% free and there's a huge archviz community out there, w/ tons of apps and plugins.
and as a further incentive to protect yourself, if you have a legit Win7, the free upgrade to Win10 still works, so it won't even cost you that.

I dont think blender would be suitable, they arent making the next Smurfs Movie, and the cost of windows 10 isnt relevant
 
Thanks for looking. The way forward is for my Dad to get off his bum and look for alternative software ( I have tried, but I don't have to use it, I use standard AutoCAD everyday so I can use any OS). I will upgrade the antivirus suite at weekend and check the backups are working. I may even add another USB Backup disk once a week that he keeps offline. I know it appears from the thread that this is last minute, its not, ive been on at him for the last year that time is running out and he remained blinkered to it. Im almost hoping the PCs will die, so I can say that's it mate times up. but the bloody things run for ever. one is a triple core AM3 CPU and the other is first gen i5... which I think is still dual core. My Mums work PC is only a core2duo but its got an SSD and windows 10 Pro with 8gb RAM and it flies..
 
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