Dangerous! Millions of Windows PCs Threatened Without Microsoft Official Support
Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 in 2025
On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will discontinue official support for the Windows 10 operating system. This decision has a significant impact on about 400 million personal computers worldwide because it no longer receives security updates or technical support for free. This increases the risk of increasingly complex cyber security threats.
Windows 10 is still used by about 41 to 43 percent of all global computers. However, many old devices cannot be upgraded to Windows 11 due to hardware specifications limitations. As a result, its use becomes very vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Microsoft has advised all users to immediately switch to Windows 11 to keep the latest security and feature updates. For users who cannot upgrade, the company provides a paid extended security updates (ESU) program that provides extension of security support for a limited period of time.
TeamViewer, a remote desktop service provider, reports that more than 40 percent of devices that have recently received technical support are still using Windows 10. Surveys from the UK consumer website which? Also revealed that 26 percent of Windows 10 users in the UK do not plan to update their operating system even though support ends. As many as 11 percent of the other respondents even stated that they had no plans at all to upgrade their devices.
Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 systems that no longer receive updates will be vulnerable to malicious attacks from hackers exploiting new security vulnerabilities. Historically, similar incidents have caused major attacks such as the WannaCry ransomware in 2017 that attacked the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) through the old Windows XP system.
Dr. Yvonne Bernard, CTO of HornetSecurity, called the cessation of Windows 10 support a “gap of cyber security and compliance” for many companies. He explained that organizations that continue to use the old system can face a number of large risks. “Companies that fail to act and continue to use old products can lose Microsoft’s technical support, increase the risk of malware, higher maintenance costs, and even the rejection of cyber insurance claims,” he said.
Charaka Goonatilake, CTO Panasaeer, gave a stern warning about the dangers of continuing to use Windows 10 after the support deadline. “Sticking with Windows 10 beyond October is like leaving your front door wide open in a bad neighborhood. There will be no more updates, patches, bug fixes or technical support; Your own,” he said.
Security experts also predict that hackers will increase exploitation of Windows 10 security loopholes as soon as the system ends. The British government through the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) even appealed to the public and organizations to immediately update their operating system before October 14, 2025.
For individual users, Microsoft provides a guide to check if their device meets the Windows 11 requirements. The trick is to open the Start menu, select Settings > update & Security > Windows Update or use the PC Health Check application. The main requirements for the upgrade include Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, UEFI, and Secure Boot support.
For users who can’t upgrade, Microsoft offers the Extended Security Update (ESU) program from October 15, 2025 to October 13, 2026, which allows users to still get important security updates at a certain cost.
The termination of Windows 10 support is a big challenge for the cyber world. Without regular updates, millions of computers are potentially easy targets for digital attacks on a global scale.
