I'm not convinced that later versions of Windows have some incredibly useful APIs that cannot be called dynamically and need to be used unconditionally.
This chase after new APIs also makes the program harder to support in ReactOS and Wine.
If you don't like newer Windows, that's fine, don't use Windows. But operating systems that old should be relegated to airgapped machines for historical purposes.
Forcing an upgrade treadmill on your users just to shake them down for a few extra advertising dollars in the world we live in today is dangerous and stupid.
> If you don't like newer Windows, that's fine, don't use Windows.
I don't believe that Windows 11 was at all necessary to achieve this security nirvana.
Took me hours to get Firefox because everything else refuses to work. That was because I remembered the Mozilla download site directly.
Then, programs screaming end of support and security and vulnerability and what not.
WHAT IS THE THREAT MODEL HERE?
I come from a place which got high speed internet only 2 years ago. Until then, EVRRYONE USED TO DISABlE WINDOWS UPDATE, because data was precious and guess what happened, nothing.
You actually believe if I use Firefox with ubo on windows 7 that suddenly malware would jump on my machine, turn it into a bot and destroy data?
What about using office tools like excel or say libreoffice.
If a windows 7 or xp is connected to internet and you don't use a browser, will it still get infected?
Nothing obviously visible, you mean.
https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2011-5046/ is a remote-code-execution attack that works via setting the height of an IFRAME because the graphics device interface doesn't vet the size of the resulting buffers generated to support that IFRAME.
It won't just jump on your machine, but it is a threat you may be continuously vulnerable to for every website you choose to access with an insufficiently-patched Win7 install. And with Win7 now EOL, there are fewer eyes on it looking for vulnerabilities that will report those vulns.
New! = better
Security vulnerabilities: Operating systems, like any software, are prone to security vulnerabilities. As time passes, these vulnerabilities become more apparent and are exploited by hackers and malicious actors. A 14-year-old operating system lacks the latest security updates, leaving it highly vulnerable to various cyber threats, including viruses, malware, and hacking attempts. Security patches and updates provided by the operating system developer help address these vulnerabilities, but they are typically discontinued for older versions.
Lack of support and compatibility: As technology advances, software developers focus their efforts on creating applications and tools compatible with the latest operating systems. By running an outdated operating system, you severely limit your ability to use modern software and benefit from the latest features and improvements. Moreover, software developers and tech support teams usually stop providing assistance and compatibility updates for older operating systems, leaving you stranded if you encounter any issues.
Incompatibility with newer hardware: Old operating systems may lack the necessary drivers and support for modern hardware components. This means you may have difficulties installing and using new devices, such as printers, scanners, or graphics cards. As hardware manufacturers continue to innovate, they prioritize compatibility with up-to-date operating systems, making it increasingly challenging to integrate old systems with new hardware.
Missing out on advancements: Operating systems have come a long way in the past 14 years. Newer versions offer significant advancements in terms of performance, stability, user experience, and productivity features. By sticking to an outdated operating system, you miss out on these improvements, making your computing experience less efficient, less secure, and less enjoyable.
Lack of software updates and features: Older operating systems no longer receive software updates, bug fixes, or new features. This lack of support means you won't benefit from improvements that enhance usability, introduce new functionalities, or address software issues. It also restricts you from accessing the latest applications and services that may require newer operating system versions.
Compliance and legal concerns: Depending on your use case, running an unsupported operating system could lead to compliance and legal issues. Organizations, particularly in regulated industries like finance or healthcare, are often required to maintain up-to-date and secure systems to protect sensitive data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in penalties, loss of reputation, and legal consequences.
My practical threat model (and presumably most peoples') does not involve any of the threats that updates and patches guard against.
How would that "drive-by system takeover" happen?
AFAIK, Windows 7 came with its network firewall enabled by default, so most services wouldn't be exposed to the network. And that network is often a local network, with another firewall separating it from the rest of the Internet. For many users, the only exposed attack surface would be the web browser itself.
Have you ever seen things in a different font?
Seriously, my threat model doesn't include anything that updates claim to guard against. I'm not a fucking enterprise server, nor does any government specifically want my shit. Try arguing for me to update my router before talking about the virtues of Windows updates, at least that might alleviate random port scans and the like which are in my threat model.
I'm far more likely to get pwned by some service getting hacked and leaking my shit rather than /me/ getting hacked. People who scream at me that EOL Windows is dangerous can go pound sand, because they have no clue WTF they're crying about.
This exploit allows arbitrary code execution by requesting too big a height for an iframe, which corrupts a GDI data structure.