Microsoft is still warning Windows 10 users to | Tech News

It’s no secret that Microsoft has lastly stopped supporting Windows 10, and the tech giant is persevering with to warn clients who’re still utilizing the PC working system that they need to be upgrading to Windows 11 to keep secure online.

As of October 14, 2025, Windows 10 users are no longer receiving free software program updates like they’ve accomplished each month since Windows 10 debuted in 2015. The working system is now ‘end of life’, which implies it can proceed to operate however received’t get important software program patches with security fixes.

This technically leaves Windows 10 users open to new bugs that hackers may exploit. Microsoft says this may go away you at risk.

“Modern cyberattacks rarely go straight for the crown jewels,” Microsoft mentioned in a weblog post. “Instead, they probe for weak points in the systems that hold the keys: outdated operating systems, legacy infrastructure, and unsupported endpoints.”

Although this post is written with companies utilizing Windows 10 in thoughts, all of the warnings additionally apply to particular person shoppers. While still utilizing the unsupported software program isn’t a guarantee you’ll run into points, the message is clear – you need to act.

In its newest Digital Defense Report, Microsoft revealed more than 90 p.c of ransomware assaults goal “unmamaged devices lacking proper security controls”.

The solely approach to keep Windows 10 secure presently is to signal up to Microsoft’s Extended Security Update (ESU) programme. You can do that out of your PC’s Settings menu.

The ESU scheme is free if you’re signed in to a Microsoft account and agree to sync your PC’s settings to OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud backup service. Once you do that, the firm will proceed to ship you month-to-month security patches to keep you secure, however just for an additional yr.

That means you’re coated till October 2026, after which you’ll need to rethink.

Microsoft is still offering all Windows 10 users a free replace to the newer Windows 11 working system, which you may also set up through the Settings menu in your laptop. Head to the Windows Update part to see if the obtain is out there.

But bear in mind that Microsoft has minimal system necessities for Windows 11, which implies there is a baseline of really useful {hardware} specs for working the newer software program correctly.

If your PC doesn’t meet these necessities, it’s not advisable to set up Windows 11, as your machine could wrestle to work correctly.

Once you’ve discounted the ESU programme or the free Windows 11 set up, the one different option for remaining technically secure by Microsoft’s requirements is to buy a new PC that runs Windows 11.

“Hackers don’t need to break your strongest lock,” Microsoft mentioned. “They just need to wait until you leave a window open.”

You could technically be OK in the event you run Windows 10 with out software program updates, particularly in the event you don’t go online a lot (or in any respect) along with your PC. If you solely use it to play native media recordsdata, use a phrase processor or play offline video games, you is likely to be secure from hurt.

But Microsoft’s message is clear: if you’re linked to the web and are working Windows 10, you need to contemplate upgrading to Windows 11. While that message is irritating when you’ve got a Windows 10 laptop functioning completely nicely, it’s value mentioning that Microsoft has supported Windows 10 without cost for 10 years. That’s for much longer than you’ll be able to anticipate most different commercially free software program to be supported for.

The longest software program help promised by Samsung and Google for a lot of of their new (*10*)Android smartphones is presently seven years.