End of support for Windows 7 Today: 17:27 on January 14
Support for the Windows 7 basic software released 11 years ago will end on the 14th. Microsoft is calling for a switch to a new operating system because the program will not be modified in the future and the risk of virus infection will increase.
"Windows 7" was sold 11 years ago and has been widely used in homes and businesses, but its support will be discontinued on the 14th.
The last patch is scheduled to be delivered on the early of the 15th of Japan time, but after that, even if security vulnerabilities are found, it will not be updated, so it will receive unauthorized access or be infected by a virus The danger is greatly increased.
According to Microsoft Japan estimates, as of January, the number of PCs still using "Windows 7" is about 14.53 million in domestic companies and municipalities and 6.38 million in individuals, nearly 14 million in total. It means climbing.
For this reason, Microsoft is urging users to switch to basic software that is still supported.
Microsoft Japan says, "Toward the Tokyo Olympics, cyber attacks are expected to increase in the future, so please take early measures."
Expert "Respond now!"
According to the Information Processing Promotion Agency, even if the basic software that has lost its support is using security software, the risk of virus infection increases.
In fact, a computer virus called "Wanna Cry" that caused great damage three years ago worldwide was said to have been severely damaged on computers that were no longer supported and could not be updated.
According to Yuhei Kumagai of the Vulnerability Countermeasures Group of the Information Processing Promotion Agency, "Even if there is only one PC in the organization that has lost support, it is possible that the PC could be intruded from there and cause damage to the entire organization. Has to switch to the basic software that is still supported. Even if the response is not in time by now, we want you to respond immediately. "
PC stores are very busy
At home electronics retailers in Tokyo, many customers come to buy personal computers with new basic software.
At home electronics retailers in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, posters stating "Windows 7 Support Ends Today" are displayed on pillars and walls of PC corners, calling for replacement of PCs.
At the entrance to the sales floor, employees stood with a microphone and announced to visitors that Windows 7 support was ending.
According to mass retailers, more than 30% of sales have increased compared to the same period last year, so many customers who purchased computers from the morning on 14th.
A 60-year-old man said, "I came to buy a new one because support has ended. I'm a little impatient."
A 69-year-old woman who purchased a new computer said, "I was afraid if my computer became infected with a virus, so I thought I should buy it soon and bought it immediately."
Increase inventory and triple inventory
Rental companies in Tokyo are increasing orders from companies seeking to upgrade their PCs, and have increased their inventory three times last year.
Office supplies rental companies in Chuo-ku, Tokyo have been increasing orders to rent computers for new basic software mainly from small and medium-sized companies since last year, and received more than 50 consultations from last week to this week. about it.
The company has procured new PCs and tripled it to 5,000 units compared to last year, but it is expected to run out of them, so we will secure 10,000 in the future.
In order to meet such demands, some companies have decided that their company's system does not yet support the new basic software and that they want to use Windows 7 PCs without connecting to the Internet. About 20% of them have Windows 7 PCs.
Ippei Sagawa, Managing Director of Rental Busters, says, "I'm quite busy especially with the consultation during the year-end and New Year holidays. I think that there are still many companies using Windows 7, so it is expected that there will be many consultations in the future." I was talking.