SHA-2 encryption is coming to Windows 7 and will be necessary to keep the system alive until the end of its days in 2020

Windows 7 is once again the protagonist and if we recently saw how Microsoft released a security patch for its old operating system (it ran parallel to another for Windows 8.1) now we know that they are preparing another patch that should arrive in a few weeks

An update that improves the capabilities and security of Windows 7, and it does so despite being a version of Windows that already he has the blade of the guillotine on his head. With an expiration date already set, the Redmond company will speed up the official support period as much as possible by launching this new patch.

An update that brings support for SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2) encryption to Windows 7 It is a system d Improved encryption compared to the previous version, SHA-1, which is also endorsed by the National Security Agency of the United States, the famous NSA.

This is a kind of digital signature designed to certify files and files that we find on the network. It is an essential component of the algorithms that help us encrypt our messages to protect our privacy on the Internet. The mission of SHA encryption is to verify the data has not been modified

In the case of SHA-2, the successor to SHA-1, has been used for a long time in a large number of security protocols and tools of all kinds. An example might be the TLS, SSL, PGP, SSH, S/MIME, or IPsec protocols.

But what does the arrival of this encryption system mean in Windows 7? It will be a necessary step to have this encryption system if you want to continue receiving security updates until the end of support around 2020. The reason is that the new Patches, starting in July, will come signed with SHA-2 encryption and if we do not have support for it... we will run out of updates.

The new patch will be released around March 12 for both Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. Both versions will now have support for SHA-2 so that they will be able to continue receiving updates until the end indicated in their roadmap and in the case of Windows 7 regardless of the payment system they have prepared at Microsoft.

Source | Askwoody Via | ADSLZone