Microsoft’s decision to stop updates for Windows 10 in mid-October has upset many advocacy groups and has left some users anxious about needing to purchase new computers to protect themselves from cyber threats.
Computers running Microsoft’s 2015-era Windows 10 will stop receiving updates from the tech giant starting October 14.
These updates were essential for “regularly patching (updating) the operating system, which had become a target for numerous cyberattacks”, explained Martin Kraemer, a computer security expert at the American company KnowBe4.
Microsoft is encouraging its users to upgrade to the latest version of its operating system: Windows 11, which was launched in 2021.
However, the company is also providing a $30 one-year extension for Windows 10 security updates for users whose hardware can’t support the new operating system.
In Europe, groups like End Planned Obsolescence (HOP) have kicked off a petition asking for free updates that would last until 2030.
Germany’s Verbraucherzentrale federation of consumer groups expressed concerns in May, stating that this situation “worries consumers and leaves them unable to make free purchase decisions”.
Microsoft has chosen not to respond to AFP’s inquiry about how many Windows users can’t upgrade.
However, Consumer Reports found that as of August, there are 650 million people globally still using Windows 10.
Another American organization, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), estimates that around 400 million computers are not compatible with Windows 11.
Users who can’t make the switch and don’t pay for security updates are at a greater risk of cyberattacks.
“Without updates, you’re not safeguarding yourself against the latest cybersecurity threats”, Kraemer explained.
While it’s “very difficult” to measure the increased risk for individual users, collectively, they could become prime targets for attackers looking for security vulnerabilities.
Even the latest antivirus software might not fully safeguard an operating system that isn’t getting updates anymore.
For users who want to keep their current hardware, switching to a different operating system could be an option.
DISCLAIMER: This article is derived from information available in the public domain.
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