- Edited
Since there may be other people like me who are currently "stuck" with an old Windows 7 system as their only usable device and are concerned about possible security risks and vulnerabilities due to the end of extended support by Microsoft, I wanted to post this possible solution.
From https://0patch.com :
"0patch Agent, our mighty little patching machine, watches over all processes running on the computer. When any one of them is found to have a patch available, that patch is immediately applied to the process in memory without disturbing that process.
0patch Agent periodically asks our server whether it has any new patches to deliver, and downloads these patches so they’re ready to get applied to vulnerable processes. These patches are immediately available even if you install a vulnerable product on a computer that is not connected to the Internet at the time.
0patch does not replace executable files or modify them in any way. It corrects them only in memory, which can be done without relaunching them."
I did some research online and the consensus seems to be that this service is legit. I understand that there are varying opinions on how much security is really necessary and some users may feel they don't need such a service and smart browsing habits coupled with an antivirus software is sufficient.
However, given the relatively low price, I personally feel better having this tool running in the background and depending on what you use your system for, you may as well.
Windows 7 will be supported with new micropatches at least until the end of 2024. As a Windows 7 user you will need to sign up for 0patch Pro, which is 24.95 EUR + tax per year. And while this may not be for everybody, I think it's always a good thing to have options.