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Google Chrome users who are still running Windows 7 or Windows 8 could be left vulnerable to cyberattacks because they will no longer be able to update to the latest version of the browser.
The latest version of Google Chrome (Chrome 110) provides users with protection against several known cybersecurity issues, including three classed as high-risk — but users who are still running Windows 7 or Windows 8 won’t be able to install the update because Chrome no longer supports updates on these versions of Windows.
Also: Google’s hackers: Inside the cybersecurity red team that keeps Google safe
“Chrome 109 is the last version of Chrome that will support Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2. Chrome 110 is the first version of Chrome that requires Windows 10 or later. You’ll need to ensure your device is running Windows 10 or later to continue receiving future Chrome releases,” Google said in a blog post at the end of last year.
In an email to ZDNET, a Google spokesperson confirmed that, for Windows users, Google Chrome 110 and future updates will only be supported on Windows 10 and later updates, including Windows 11.
Older versions of Chrome will still work, but they won’t receive security updates — and users are encouraged to move to a supported version of Windows to receive future updates.
The decision to cease support for Google Chrome for Windows 7 and Windows 8
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