6 Discontinued Technologies That Could Be Putting You At Risk
6 Discontinued Technologies That Could Be Putting You At Risk
The one constant about technology is that it changes rapidly. Tools that were once industry standard, like Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash, age out, replaced by faster and more secure alternatives. Discontinued technology can leave computers and networks vulnerable to attacks.
While older technology may still run fine on your systems that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to use. One of the biggest dangers of using outdated technology is that it can lead to a data breach.
After a number of years old software and hardware systems are often no longer supported by their OEM's. No support, means no new updates that often patch newly found and exploited system vulnerabilities. Unpatched devices can be a sitting duck for hackers looking to gain access into a network.
Approximately 1 in 3 data breaches are due to unpatched system vulnerabilities.
Another problem with using discontinued technology is that it can leave you behind. Your business can end up looking like you’re in the stone ages to your customers, which can cause them to lose faith and trust.
Important reasons to keep your technology updated to a supported version are:
- Reduce the risk of a data breach or malware infection
- To mitigate hardware and software compatibility issues
- Meet data privacy compliance requirements
- To be competitive in your market
- To keep a good reputation and foster customer trust
- To enable employee productivity
Older systems are clunky and get in the way of employee productivity. If you keep these older systems in use, it can lead to the loss of good team members due to frustration. 49% of surveyed workers say they would consider leaving their jobs due to poor technology. Following is a list of outdated technology tools that you should replace as soon as possible. Are any of these still in use on your home computer or within your business?
Get Rid of This Tech Now If You’re Still Using It!
Internet Explorer
Many moons ago, Internet Explorer (IE) used to be the number one browser in the world. But, over time, Google Chrome and other browsers have "edged it" out. Including its own replacement, Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft began phasing out IE with the introduction of Microsoft Edge in 2015 which is now actually based on Google's open source Chromium Project. In recent years, applications and websites have dropped support for the legacy IE browser. Internet Explorer loses all support starting June 15, 2022.
Adobe Flash
Millions of websites used Adobe Flash in the early 2000s. But other tools can now do the animations and neat things Flash could do. This made the tool obsolete, and Adobe ended it.
The Adobe Flash Player lost all support, including security updates, as of January 1, 2021. If you still have this lingering on any of your computers, you should uninstall the browser plugin and any Flash software.
Windows 7 and Earlier
Windows 7 was a very popular operating system, but it’s now gone the way of the dinosaur. The old OS lost support on January 14, 2020. While Windows 10 and Windows 11 have seen widespread adoption both in homes and businesses.
While it will still technically run, Windows 7 is vulnerable to being hacked. Microsoft Windows OS is a high-value target for hackers, so, you can be sure they are out there looking for systems still running this obsolete version of Windows so they can take advantage of its vulnerabilities.
macOS 10.14 Mojave and Earlier
Due to the steep costs of Apple computers, people tend to hang onto them as long as possible. However, once these devices age past a certain point, they will no longer work with the newest version of macOS, leaving the hardware stuck on an older and non-supported version with potentially unpatched security flaws.
If you are running macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier, then your OS is no longer supported by Apple, and you need to upgrade.
Oracle 18c Database
If your business uses Oracle databases, then you may want to check your current version. If you are running the Oracle 18C Database, then you are vulnerable. Breaches can easily happen due to unpatched system vulnerabilities.
The Oracle 18C Database lost all support in June of 2021. If you have upgraded, then you’ll want to keep an eye out for another upcoming end-of-support date. Both Oracle 19C and 21C will be losing premiere support in April of 2024.
Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Another popular database tool is Microsoft’s SQL. If you are using SQL Server 2014, then mainstream support has already ended. And in July of 2024, all support, including security updates will stop entirely.
This gives you a little more time to upgrade before you’re in danger of not getting security patches. But it is better to upgrade sooner rather than later. Leaving plenty of time for testing and verification of the upgrade.
Need Help Upgrading Your Technology & Reducing Risk?
Upgrades can be scary, especially if everything has been running great. You may be afraid that a migration or upgrade will cause issues, but rest assured. EV-Consultech can help smoothly upgrade your technology in addition to comprehensive testing to ensure the all systems are working as expected and reliable. If your business is in the greater Los Angeles area, fill out the form below to schedule a technology review today!
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