By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, a move that could leave hundreds of millions of users vulnerable to cyberattacks and facing costly hardware upgrades.
Released in 2015, Windows 10 will no longer receive regular security patches after the cutoff date.
Cybersecurity expert Martin Kraemer of KnowBe4 warned that the move exposes users to rising cyber risks. Microsoft has urged migration to Windows 11, but many older devices cannot run the newer operating system.
To ease the transition, Microsoft is offering a $30 one-year extension for critical updates, but only to select customers.
Critics say this unfairly burdens consumers, especially those who bought PCs just a few years ago. US watchdog Consumer Reports called the policy “a blow to consumers’ pocketbooks.”
In Europe, opposition is mounting. French advocacy group HOP has petitioned Microsoft to extend free updates until 2030, while Germany’s Verbraucherzentrale warned the move fuels unnecessary electronic waste.
Exact figures remain unclear, but Consumer Reports estimated 650 million global Windows 10 users as of August.
The US PIRG says up to 400 million machines may not qualify for a Windows 11 upgrade.
Without security updates, third-party applications may also fail. “You’re no longer protecting yourself against the most recent cybersecurity risks,” Kraemer said.
Forrester analyst Paddy Harrington added that some users may turn to open-source alternatives like Linux, which supports older machines.
“As long as your applications, management, and security tools support that OS, it’s a good choice,” Harrington said.
