A few days ago Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 7, so the operating system would no longer receive free security updates, although apparently there are many interested in keeping this system alive. Ethical hacking specialists, in conjunction with the Free Software Foundation, sent a petition to the company for Windows 7 to upcycle the system and launch it as open source software.
In a statement, the Free Software Foundation mentioned: “For 10 long years, Microsoft invaded user privacy and poisoned education with this operating system. Stopping support for Windows 7 is the easiest way for Microsoft to try to remove evidence of these past mistakes.”
Experts mention that this is the perfect opportunity for the ethical hacking and cybersecurity community to study and find the best ways to enhance the capabilities of this operating system.
The foundation hopes to gather at least 7,700 electronic signatures to bring a strong case to Microsoft. At the time of writing, the platform had already gathered 7,634 signatures, so the next step could be just around the corner.
Although free support for Windows 7 has came to its end, Microsoft noted that three years of lifespan will be provided to individuals and companies who wish to continue using this operating system, which is highly likely, so Microsoft will not fail to take advantage of the Windows 7 system to generate a considerable amount of revenue.
According to the ethical hacking specialists from the International Institute of Cyber Security (IICS), the German government is one of the institutions that will pay for the possibility of using this system for a little longer. As mentioned, the agreement amounts to more than $850k USD to receive extended security updates from Windows 7 during 2020.
It should be noted that, because Microsoft still has trade agreements involving additional updates to Windows 7, it is highly likely that the Free Software Foundation request will be dismissed. Although the company has already received multiple questions related to the issue, an official stance is not yet known.
He is a well-known expert in mobile security and malware analysis. He studied Computer Science at NYU and started working as a cyber security analyst in 2003. He is actively working as an anti-malware expert. He also worked for security companies like Kaspersky Lab. His everyday job includes researching about new malware and cyber security incidents. Also he has deep level of knowledge in mobile security and mobile vulnerabilities.
