Google Chrome will no longer receive updates on Windows 7 and Windows 8

Those who still prefer Windows 7 will have one more reason to at least upgrade to Windows 10, as Google Chrome will run out of security updates on that OS.

While the abandonment of Windows 8 was to be expected given the very small number of remaining users, Google’s decision to no longer offer Chrome updates to Windows 7 users either could turn the web browser into a new Internet Explorer, with PCs running that OS remaining vulnerable to any Chrome exploits discovered after support stops.

Discreetly applied, patches that close various security issues come much more often than regular updates, representing a central element to the very good level of security Google has accustomed its users to. Once these are turned off, Google Chrome soon becomes an easy infiltration route for all sorts of malware, continually developed for the world’s most popular web browser.

According to the Google blog post, “Older versions of Chrome will continue to work, but updates will no longer be released for users of these operating systems. If you are currently using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, we encourage you to upgrade to a supported version of Windows before that date to ensure you continue to receive the latest Chrome security and feature updates.”