Microsoft is pulling the plug on its widely loved operating system (OS), Windows 7, in January 2020. Therefore, it is important that you know how to upgrade to their latest OS, Windows 10. Why should you upgrade? Well, when Windows 7 gets discontinued, Microsoft will no longer offer support or update the OS, leaving you vulnerable to exploits and other security risks. Those of you that are worried that Windows 10 will have a steep learning curve, fret not! Windows 10 is very similar to its older brother Windows 7. I have to admit, there are a few differences between the two, such as Windows 10’s revamped settings panel, and the new start menu. However, if you are worried that Windows 7 and Windows 10 would be polar opposites like Windows 7 and Windows 8, rest easy, nothing could ever be that bad again. This guide aims to ease you through upgrading your OS. Once you finish with these steps, you’ll be well on your way to Windows 10! Check List Minimum Requirements for Windows 10 If you are worried you may be on this list, think about the following question. Did you purchase your computer after 2014? If you answered yes to this question, chances are your machine is more than capable of running Windows 10. For those of you running older machines, consider purchasing a new computer. Many of them come preloaded with Windows 10, and besides the upgraded OS, you will also be greeted with high speeds, better resolution, and overall better user experience. Processor 1GHz or Faster CPU or System on a Chip (SoC) RAM 1GB for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit Hard Drive Space Existing installations: 16GB for 32-bit or 20GB for 64-bit. Clean installation or new PC: 32GB or larger Graphics DirectX9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver Display Resolution 800 x 600 Network Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection Before upgrading it is also important that you have the latest version of Windows 7 installed on your machine as well. Be sure to check for updates on your machine and to download the “Windows 7 Service Pack 1” if you do not have that already installed on your machine. Also, and it pains me to say this to you if you have waited this long to upgrade to Windows 10, it is no longer free. However, online retailer Newegg will make the upgrade expense less painful for you by offering both the Home edition and Pro edition of Windows 10 at a discounted price! The cost of a new Windows 10 license goes for $109.99 (Home) and $149.99 (Pro) on Newegg. Furthermore, make sure you have an up-to-date backup or system image of your computer before upgrading. Microsoft has certainly improved in its upgrade process, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Follow this guide on Bleeping Computer to learn how to create a backup of your Windows 7 computer! One last thing, I promise. Before you start, it is recommended that any anti-virus software you have installed be removed as this can sometimes cause interference with this upgrade. Make sure that all peripherals are also unplugged from the computer while it is updating, as these too can sometimes cause errors. Upgrading Download and Install the Media Creation Tool Make sure you have your Windows 10 license activation code ready Double-click on the MediaCreationTool.exe to begin the Windows 10 upgrade setup Accept the licensing agreement Select “Upgrade this PC now” option and the necessary files will begin downloading to begin the upgrade. Once finished, click Next Enter your valid Windows 10 product key (Home or Pro) Select Next Accept the licensing agreement Select “Keep personal files and apps” option Select Install Are you wondering what Hammett Technologies can do to continue to help your company grow? Our team of trained professionals works diligently to ensure that your network continues to run smoothly and securely! Click here to learn more about what we do!
It’s finally time to say goodbye to our old friend. In a few months, January 14, 2020, to be exact, Windows 7 will officially no longer be receiving security patches and updates from Microsoft. Therefore, if you are one of the many still calling Windows 7 your home, it may be time to think about moving to Windows 10. Why is this Important to Me? Many of you are probably thinking, “Why should I worry about moving to a new operating system?”. The answer is security. When Microsoft pulls the plug on the extended support (January 14, 2020) that means Windows 7 will no longer receive any critical updates. Updates that would fix security holes and exploits. This means that the longer you wait to move to Windows 10, the more at risk you are of an attack. Why Not Move to Windows 8? If you are looking for an Operating System similar to Windows 7, you should look no further than to Windows 10. Windows 10, while there are differences between them, is more similar to Windows 7. Windows 8, on the other hand, is, for lack of a better term, a mess. The desperate attempt to mix the mobile and PC platform was a disaster and will ultimately leave you with a sour taste wishing for anything else. The other reason to make the jump to Windows 10 and not 8 is because Windows 8 will also cease support soon. In January 2023 the extended support for Windows 8 will end, and with it will come the same security risks of Windows 7. As we said earlier, for those of you looking to fill the void left from your goodbye to Windows 7, Windows 10 is there. If you find yourself needing assistance in migrating yourself or your company to Windows 10, please give us a call! We will be more than happy to assist you in the transition to Windows 10! To learn more about what we can do to assist your company’s growth, click here!
A new adware exploit has been discovered recently. Named “Cavallarin” after its founder, the exploit allows for the unwarranted download of various ads onto the users Mac device, all while being trusted by Apple’s macOS Gatekeeper. How the Cavallarin Exploit Works The exploit takes advantage of Mac’s Gatekeeper protection service, allowing for malicious apps to trick the Gatekeeper into thinking they are Apple-certified applications, granting them elevated access to the device. This is a serious concern that Apple has yet to address, even after Filippo Cavallarin approached them with the discovery. When the Gatekeeper is operating properly, it will prompt the user, informing them that the application they are attempting to install is not Apple-certified and could be hazardous. However, if the application takes advantage of the exploit, this prompt will never occur, and the device will become infected. How to Prevent Your Mac Device from Exploitation For now, the easiest method of prevention would be to only download applications that are 100% known to be Apple-certified. Even then, it is smart to remain vigilant regarding any application you are download, always airing on the side of caution. For now, with no comment from Apple regarding the exploit yet, it is hard to say when a patch will be created and pushed to users. If you are still worried about the potential exploitation of your device, Intego’s free VirusBarrier Scanner is able to check your system for apps using the exploit. These threats will appear as “OSX/Linker.”