Microsoft has a security update for Windows 7 machines.
A few months ago when Microsoft shared that Windows 7 was no longer going to be supported as of January 14, 2020, it announced that its enterprise clients would still be able to get security updates and patches on the older platform for an extended period of time.
The Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) is a paid service offered by Microsoft that will deliver updates to computers still running Windows 7.
These updates will be pushed out past the January deadline into 2023. The problem?
There is a substantial price tag to these security licenses.
ESU updates will cost between $25 to $200 per computer, depending on your Windows 7 version (Enterprise vs Professional) and the amount of time the update will need to be applied.
Who is eligible for ESU?
While these licenses are available to many Microsoft clients, Microsoft is limiting these licenses to organizations with volume-licensing agreements.
Last month, Microsoft had released a test version of its Windows 7 ESU update (KB4528069) so that IT teams can verify if their systems are compatible with the upcoming ESU release.
When users install this update, they also will be provided with an ESU license key, which will authorize future updates from ESU for your system.
Hackers are ALREADY getting into Microsoft!
But the ESU system went out, hackers were able to bypass Windows 7 installation key, as they have been able to bypass Microsoft’s security.
While Microsoft might be able to change how accounts are being accessed, but for now it seems like Microsoft’s security is not really keeping people from bypassing their licensing security (NOTE: I do not advocate going around Microsoft).
The point I want to make is that Microsoft was never able to keep its licensing emails secure. Windows key cracks have always existed, allowing for installation of pirated versions.
What would I recommend? If you’re even tempted to thinking about this ESU option, I’d recommend sticking to a plan to update your Windows 7 if at all possible.
