Hello, I am confused about Microsoft's plan for Win7. Is it still maintained? For a standard desktop connected to the internet, what are the risks to keep on using it? The only ports I have open are related to programs still updated like steam and to svchost.exe. thank you.
Update it: Bypass Windows 7 Extended Security Updates Eligibility or Simplix Pack to update Live Win7 System/ Integrate hotfixes into Win7 distribution
If you use an updated antivirus, do regular scheduled scans you should be fine even without updates (you can use BypassESU though as @Enthousiast suggested). There are a lot of people still using Windows 7 or older without any updates (they say that updates slow down their computer or other things like that) and they are mostly fine (as long as they don't run random exes from the internet).
Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise are officially eligible for ESU stage updates, ESU Bypass makes it possible for all other SKUs too but it's not advised to use it on the not officially ESU supported SKUs.
According to the microsoft link, Windows Embedded POSReady 7 will receive updates until October 2024. Which i assume would be useful for us the same way we could patch XP with it's POS updates.