Using Chrome On Windows XP Or Vista? Here's How To Avoid Losing Secure Gmail On Feb 8

Using Chrome On Windows XP Or Vista? Here's How To Avoid Losing Secure Gmail On Feb 8

I know, upgrading your operating system is a pain. Your programs have to be reinstalled, you have to relearn the quirks of a new operating system, and it just takes so much more time and money than you allocate.

Well, if you've been putting it off and rely on Gmail, you'll want to free up some budget and block out the weekend, because as of next Wednesday, February 8, Google will no longer support Gmail on anything other than the latest, greatest version of the Chrome browser: version 55.

Of course, nothing in that alert says that you have to stop using Gmail. In fact Gmail will still work in older versions of the Chrome Browser through December of this year. So why is this so important? Because it means that, for users still on Windows XP and Windows Vista, accessing Gmail on the last supported version of Chrome for their OS, version 49, opens up their Gmail to security vulnerabilities.


Chrome is updated on a regular basis to stay ahead of hackers. Every version brings new tweaks to ensure that your data stays secure. This announcement is Google's warning that, if a Gmail bug or exploit in a Chrome Browser version earlier than version 55 shows up, Google isn't going to go back and fix it. Security fixes are for versions 55 and up starting 2/8. Think of it as unclipping from the line when you're in the middle of a 1,000 foot ascent. You can technically do it; but it's not recommended if you like to keep all your inside parts, well, inside.

So what can you do?

If you're on Windows XP or Vista, consider upgrading (you really should anyway, as those operating systems are rife with unsupported programs at this point and highly vulnerable). If you don't want to move up to Windows 7 or 10, you might even want to take a look at a Chromebook. Especially if you mainly use your computer as an internet communication device, it's a surefire way to ensure that all of your Google data is as secure as it can possibly be.

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For everyone else, you shouldn't have to worry. Chrome updates itself on a regular basis, usually when you shut down and relaunch the browser. If you haven't done that for a while, or are just curious as to what version you currently have installed, open the Chrome Browser menu, click Settings, then About. Most likely, you'll see that you're already running version 55, or that it's queued up to install the next time you launch. You're all set!

While this might not seem like a huge deal since Gmail will still keep working on older browsers, I'd recommend upgrading sooner rather than waiting for something bad to happen. Once Google pulls up its fence posts and leaves you in the wilderness, there are plenty of poachers out there ready to snag your previously secure data.

And if you think upgrading your OS is costly and time consuming - just wait till you have to reclaim your digital identity and convince your bank you didn't route thousands of dollars through digital clearing houses.

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