Beginning April 11, 2017, Microsoft will be ending support for the Windows Vista operating system which was originally released in January 2007. Microsoft states that those who are using Windows Vista will “no longer receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft.”
If you are still running Windows Vista, it will continue to work after the support end date, however you will be more vulnerable to viruses, security risks and other threats. You may also run into trouble with connecting various apps and devices (such as printers, scanners, etc.) as hardware manufacturers continue to optimize their devices for the latest versions of Windows.
Microsoft has also stopped allowing the download of Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows Vista. For those who already have Microsoft Security Essentials, you will only receive anti-malware updates for a limited time and there will be limited effectiveness on your computer once the latest security updates are no longer available.
