Windows XP And Vista Users To Get Garbage Gmail Access

Even with the release of the Windows 10, there are still a lot of PC users out there that have Windows Vista or even XP as their operating system. Microsoft has been warning that computers with both OS will start losing functionality as the years wear on. Now, Google is adding to the pile by cutting off XP or Vista users from accessing their Gmail account in its current form.

In a recent blog post, Google announced that it will cease support for Chrome versions 53 and below. This is a problem for users of computers that have older OS than Windows 7 because the updates cap for those stopped at 49. This effectively means that anyone using XP or Vista trying to access Gmail will find a much more basic format.

Now, there are several problems that will stem from this restriction, with the less streamlined appearance being the least of them. Users who got used to the current way of organizing emails will likely feel a jolt in how disjointed everything will seem. More than that, there is also the huge security threats that these users will have to contend with, Engadget reports.

Each update for the Chrome web browser is meant to make it safer as it keeps up with current cyber threats. The less updated the Chrome version is, the less secure it becomes. However, by completely removing support for the browser and subsequently, the Gmail service, emails become much more exposed to phishing scams, malware, and getting hacked.

Starting now, users who are still relying on computers with XP or Vista in them to access their emails have a year to make a change. Once December comes around, reading their emails is going to be a lot more unpleasant, PC World reports. Then again, there will likely be those who won’t mind the downgrade.