Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will end their normal life cycle with the new year. From 2023Therefore, both versions of the Microsoft operating system will stop receiving updates with the risk that this entails. Of course, the official recommendation is to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11.

But as it happens, there are millions of users who ignore the recommendations, or do not directly detect it, or even consider switching to new versions. As has also traditionally been the case, it is web browsers, one of the elements that are inherently most susceptible to system security, to help in the work.

So the ubiquitous Chrome has already been talked about, and it will be with the launch of Chrome 110 on January 7, 2023, when Google’s browser will say goodbye to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. That means it will still work, but you will no longer receive updates, so the system catches up. At Mozilla, meanwhile, they are thinking the opposite.

As discussed by some Firefox developers, the possibility of maintaining support for the browser is on the table due to, among other things, the economic crisis that we are starting to suffer, because of the shortage of components, and because, in combination, they can make it difficult to restore hardware in many areas. In many cases, a necessary recovery to adapt to the technical requirements of Windows 10, but especially Windows 11.

In this regard, it should be recalled that Support for Windows 10 will end in 2025, so a fake update would only delay a greater evil. And at Mozilla they are considering two courses of action, which are basically the only two possible: follow Chrome or do it the other way around.

Specifically, the two strongest proposals raised are the cancellation of Firefox support in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 next year in January, respectively. extend until June; And everything has its pros and cons.

However, Firefox users on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 would do well to take the first precaution and retire the browser in January to move to Firefox ESR, a version with extended support that is not as modern as it is. is the current version, but its support is expected to go much further.