SHA256 is a type of SHA-2, which stands for Secure Hash Algorithm 2. This newer and more secure version of SHA-1 was developed in 1995, but has since become obsolete and vulnerable to attacks.

Its policy is that after a major release's five-year anniversary, it will have one last minor release containing any fixes, and then will be considered end of life (EOL) and no longer supported.

Windows Embedded POSReady 7, the last supported version of Windows 7, has hit the end of the road nearly five years after the desktop edition. Windows LTSC versions are intended for corporate users ...