Microsoft announced Friday that it will provide free security updates for federally certified voting systems that run Windows 7 through the 2020 elections, delaying the threat of voting taking place on unpatched equipment.
Microsoft launched Windows 7 in 2009, and committed to providing security updates to all systems running Windows 7 for 10 years. The updates were due to cease as of January for voting equipment running Windows 7, which makes it easier for malicious actors to find cyber vulnerabilities in the machines and interfere in elections.
Prior to Friday’s announcement, Microsoft was planning to provide “extended security updates” for Windows 7 systems through January 2023, but customers would have to pay a fee for each device that required the updates.
