6 Discontinued Technology Tools You Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore

Every year the technology we access reaches new heights, and some of our favorite tools become obsolete. These old tools often constitute a security risk or cause slowdowns and incompatibility issues with newer tools. The best thing to do is to uninstall them. 

Here are six discontinued technology tools you shouldn’t be using anymore. Some of these tools were used in over 30% of websites back in their heyday, and today are relegated to use by less than two percent of sites. 

Here is an overview of those outdated tools:

1. WinRAR
2. uTorrent
3. QuickTime 7
4. Microsoft Silverlight
5. Flash and shockwave
6. Java

1. WinRAR

A file compression and extraction tool is always a handy thing to have on your computer. However, there are much better options out there than WinRAR. WinRAR uses an outdated “shareware” license which admittedly turned it into a joke. 

Essentially, you can run a download and install a trial version of the extraction tool for free, and after a while, it asks you to pay. However, since the app never locks anyone out, most people use it indefinitely. Still, more updated options are available if you want a free extraction tool.

2. uTorrent

If you’ve ever been a heavy torrent user, then you’re familiar with that torrenting software uTorrent. Once upon a time, everyone considered uTorrent one of the best torrenting software out there. But after years of dealing with issues caused by the app, most users consider it untrustworthy. 

First off, uTorrent floods its interface with many ads and offers for other software, which is irritating. However, what broke the proverbial camel’s back was when they were discovered to be bundling a crypto mining software without informing users. Not only did it waste a lot of system resources, it meant users were making the company money without their consent. If you need torrenting software, look for a company with much more transparency. 

3. QuickTime 7

If you still have QuickTime 7 installed on your computer, then this is the wake-up call you need to uninstall it. For one thing, better media players are available for Windows, and Apple no longer supports QuickTime for Windows or QuickTime 7. So even if you see a higher version for your Windows system, it won’t be an official version. 

Another thing is that iTunes doesn’t require QuickTime for any reason, so you can uninstall it without worrying about it causing issues. The VLC media player is a great replacement and supports all kinds of video files. Another great option is PotPlayer. So as you can see, there is no shortage of more updated media players. 

4. Microsoft Silverlight

When Silverlight launched in 2007, the goal was to be an all-purpose tool (like Adobe Flash) for writing media-rich web applications. Today, Silverlight is pretty much an obsolete program. If you paid a visit to Silverlight’s official website, you’d see a message saying it is not compatible with Microsoft Edge, the official Microsoft browser. And doesn’t that speak volumes?

Chrome and Firefox also don’t work with Silverlight, and it isn’t compatible with Edge. So why should you still have it on your computer? Internet Explorer (IE) is the only browser that still supports it, and it is being discontinued by Microsoft this year. 

5. Flash and shockwave

Most video games and multimedia have shifted to better GUI formats as animation standards have advanced. Shockwave and, even recently, Adobe Flash, formerly the global standard for films, games, and online content, have been abandoned for good. Is there still a use for them? Only if you have fond memories of ancient Flash games (the only valid reason to keep it going) – but you’d better use it offline because it’s no longer receiving security updates or support.

The writing was clearly on the wall for Adobe Flash. Due to its numerous inherent vulnerabilities, Flash is prone to zero-day attacks and is a current favorite among cybercriminals.

The Flash resolution is not designed for modern tablets and smartphones, as it renders mobile content poorly. Modern browsers no longer support these older programs.

6. Java

Last on the list may shock some people, but you shouldn’t be using Java anymore, as it poses a considerable security risk. Many cyber attackers use Java as their go-to attack vector. 

Now the Java here isn’t the Java Development Kit (JDK) which most developers favor, but the Java runtime environment. While Java may look like a harmless technology, the safest option for most users is to get rid of it from their PC. A significant part of why Java is a security risk is due to the irregularities in its updates. Hackers prey on this irregularity to insert their malicious codes. Worst of all, the vulnerabilities in Java can be transferred to other programs.

Keep Your Systems Updated & Secure

Our Quantum Care plan offers an all-in-one solution to keep your PCs secure and updated. Call (920) 256-1214 or reach out online to chat about your tech.