There are no two ways about it: Windows 7 is dying, and fairly soon. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will stop issuing security updates for their best-selling operating system. Some users remain defiant: They fail to see any reason to migrate to a newer system. This is a dangerous attitude: By holding on to Windows 7, they don't just risk their own safety, but also the security of others.

The following article will explain what to expect when Microsoft pulls the plug on Windows 7, why it's a bad idea to stick with a dead horse, and propose viable migration options for users unwilling to upgrade to Windows 10. In any case, it's high time to get ready: January of 2020 is closing in fast.

Anti-virus software is frequently seen as bothersome. Warnings inevitably pop up at the most inopportune moments, breaking your concentration and intruding into your workflow. Occasionally, an overzealous anti-virus application will even block legitimate software.

Time for a brief look under the hood: What does anti-virus software do? How does it work? And is virus protection even worth paying for anymore?

From time to time we find ourselves in situations in which it would help to understand a foreign language: before the holidays, when you want to negotiate the last details of the holiday home with the landlord; at work, when you receive an inquiry from abroad; at home, when a new device or gadget only comes with a manual in an undecipherable language.

In such cases, the online service of a company from Cologne, Germany can help: DeepL translates texts almost as well as a human being. This article will show you how incredibly well this works.

Dear SoftMaker customers:

We make our blog even more useful for you: starting today, we will not only cover topics related directly to SoftMaker and our products, but also other topics that will help you use your computer to its full potential.

We are happy to announce that we have signed up well-known German computer journalist Gerald Himmelein as our new columnist. Read the following short interview to get to know him better.