As technology improves, there is always a need for business services to adopt the use of newer technological tools. Organizations that conduct business activities using outdated technologies are at a greater risk of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. When your PC uses applications that are no longer supported by the manufacturer your risk increases exponentially.
Conducting business activities using old technology is synonymous with running a car that leaks oil. Of course, there are chances the car will get to your destination with periodic fixes here and there. However, it does not eliminate the reality that the car leaks and is still vulnerable to many repairs and, perhaps, breaks down.
Every technological innovation has its shelf life. Waiting for it to stop working before you upgrade is not a good game plan.
Why expose your PC to several risks using outdated technology?
There are many reasons why using non-supported software can harm your business and your reputation. The money you’ll spend on quick fixes can be used for something else while allotting your time to do something productive. Without mincing words, using discontinued tech and old OS and software versions increases your cost of doing business and exposes you to many cyberattacks.
Let’s discuss some of the outdated technologies that put your PC at risk.
4 Outdated Technology That Could Put You At Risk
1. Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Flash was a popular program in the early 2000s for animating websites and creating online games. It was accessed through a browser plugin, which a majority of internet users had back in the day.
But if you still have remnants of Flash hanging around on your PC, it could mean a vulnerability that leaves you open to a breach. Adobe stopped supporting Flash on December 31, 2020. Further, it also blocked Flash content from running in Flash Player as of January 2021.
It’s a good idea to check any browsers on your PC as well as your program files to make sure that you do not still have any Adobe Flash files.
2. Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer (IE) was the “king” of browsers for many years and championed us into the internet age. Some companies still use it to access legacy sites that were built for IE. But the browser was just officially dropped by Microsoft and is no longer receiving support, including those critical security patches.
As of June 15, 2022, Internet Explorer was put out to pasture, so it’s important that you ensure it’s removed from any PCs at your home or business. If you still need to access a legacy site, you can do that with Microsoft’s new official browser, Edge.
Microsoft Edge has what’s known as “IE Mode,” which can be safely used to access those legacy sites.
3. Windows 7
Microsoft announced that Windows 7 would no longer be supported from January 14, 2020. Statcounter revealed that about 16% of Windows PCs still used Windows 7 in July 2021, even after Microsoft announced its support’s end.
This is a risky thing to do. It is not only that Microsoft will no longer be releasing security updates for Windows 7. It won’t even attend to any security issues or provide technical support.
Regardless of this reality, many people are comfortable with not upgrading to a newer version of Windows. Using Windows 7 exposes your PC to many security risks and vulnerabilities.
4. macOS El Capitan
Apple announced in 2018 that the macOS El captain was no longer receiving any form of support from the company. Computers are at risk of exploitation if they still use macOS El Captain.
If your Mac is older and can’t upgrade past that version, the best thing to do is retire it and purchase a new one. It’s too dangerous to continue operating on an outdated and no-longer supported OS.
2 Risks Of Using Outdated Technology
1. Increase in cost: Maintaining outdated technology can be very expensive. Unfortunately, organizations that use obsolete technology will usually focus on fixing the technology rather than upgrading, which often ends up costing less in the long run.
Also, outdated technologies consume more power compared to newer ones. For this purpose, you’ll create a lot of overhead costs for your organization.
2. Less productivity: Outdated technologies are time-consuming as they require lots of maintenance and updates. This will make you and your employees less productive. It will also lead to a worse employee experience and consumer satisfaction.
Get Rid of Outdated Technologies
The only thing that remains constant is change! It is time to discard your old technologies and use recent innovations to help you stay productive and deliver optimal results.
For your technological updates and upgrades, contact us at 208-468-4323 or request our support online.