Google will no longer be supporting some older versions of Windows next year, and users might need to upgrade their Microsoft operating systems by early next year.

(Photo : KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/AFP via Getty Images)
Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of Chrome, speaks at Google's annual developer conference, Google I/O, in San Francisco on June 28, 2012.

Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

Google announced on its Google Support Page that it is already set to release its final version of Google Chrome update in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, as they will be dropping the support on February 7, 2023 (tentative). 

This report will affect some people despite being released 13 years from now since several people are still running this system globally. According to Bleeping Computer's report, 10% of all Windows systems in the world are Windows 7 users, while 2.7% are Windows 8.1 users. Last year, there were at least 100,000 million PCs that are still running with Windows 7.

Based on these numbers alone, a lot of people will be unsupported if they will not upgrade their Windows operating system and will be accessing an unsupported web browser, which might lead them to several security risks. 

Google and Microsoft's Advice

As per The Verge's report, Chrome 110 will still be working on older versions, but they will not be releasing future updates with it. Google encourages its users to upgrade to the latest versions for them to ensure that they will still be receiving the latest updates regarding security and future features.

Microsoft also gave advice to its users. Despite these versions remaining functional for some applications, these are prone to security risks as it exposes their computers and data. They ended support for Windows 7 last 2020, which they had been preparing since 2019, as they notified their users one year before its drop date. 

Also Read: Google Chrome Incognito Now Locks Private Tabs via Fingerprints on Android: Here's How it Works

Privacy Sandbox

Meanwhile, Google Chrome is testing an expansion for its Privacy Sandbox initiative that started in August. It is an effort to develop new technology that strengthens the privacy of the people on the internet, both for Web and Mobile. Through this, it will bring more security for the users since it eliminates third-party cookies while accessing a certain platform or website. 

As per Google, this develops new solutions that can benefit both the customers and browsers/platforms. They added that "The Privacy Sandbox initiative is developing new solutions that support key ecosystem needs, without reliance on online tracking identifiers, so that publishers and developers can provide free content and grow their business in a privacy-preserving way."

Google also invites its users and other people in the industry, especially web browsers, online publishers, tech companies, advertisers, and developers,  to experience and participate in the testing. To learn more, the Chromium blog features the progress of the Privacy Sandbox through an update. 

Related Article: Google Chrome: Privacy Sandbox Testing to Expand in August-Goodbye Third-Party Cookies

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Written by Inno Flores