Windows 10 users urged to upgrade to avoid “security fiasco” – BleepingComputer
New FireScam Android data-theft malware poses as Telegram Premium appWindows 10 users urged to upgrade to avoid “security fiasco”Nuclei flaw lets malicious templates bypass signature verificationCryptocurrency wallet drainers stole $494 million in 2024CISA says recent government hack limited to US TreasuryVulnerable Moxa devices expose industrial networks to attacksChinese hackers also breached Charter and Windstream networksEagerbee backdoor deployed against Middle Eastern govt orgs, ISPsHow to access the Dark Web using the Tor BrowserHow to enable Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection in Windows 11How to use the Windows Registry EditorHow to backup and restore the Windows RegistryHow to start Windows in Safe ModeHow to remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or other MalwareHow to show hidden files in Windows 7How to see hidden files in WindowsRemove the Theonlinesearch.com Search RedirectRemove the Smartwebfinder.com Search RedirectHow to remove the PBlock+ adware browser extensionRemove the Toksearches.xyz Search RedirectRemove Security Tool and SecurityTool (Uninstall Guide)How to Remove WinFixer / Virtumonde / Msevents / Trojan.vundoHow to remove Antivirus 2009 (Uninstall Instructions)How to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS, TDL3, or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKillerLocky Ransomware Information, Help Guide, and FAQCryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQCryptorBit and HowDecrypt Information Guide and FAQCryptoDefense and How_Decrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQQualys BrowserCheckSTOPDecrypterAuroraDecrypterFilesLockerDecrypterAdwCleanerComboFixRKillJunkware Removal TooleLearningIT Certification CoursesGear + GadgetsSecurityBest VPNsHow to change IP addressAccess the dark web safelyBest VPN for YouTubeCybersecurity firm ESET is urging Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 or Linux to avoid a “security fiasco” as the 10-year-old operating system nears the end of support in October 2025.”It’s five minutes to twelve to avoid a security fiasco for 2025,” explains ESET security expert Thorsten Urbanski.”We strongly advise all users not to wait until October, but to switch to Windows 11 immediately or choose an alternative operating system if their device cannot be updated to the latest Windows operating system. Otherwise, users expose themselves to considerable security risks and make themselves vulnerable to dangerous cyber attacks and data loss.”On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive free security updates for the operating system unless owners purchase extended security updates. This means that Windows 10 users will be at risk of any new vulnerabilities that are discovered, which could lead to significant breaches and malware distribution.According to ESET, approximately 32 million computers in Germany run Windows 10, making it around 65 percent of all devices in households. In contrast, Windows 11 runs on only 33% of German devices, which is approximately 16.5 million devices.StatCounter backs up these figures, and as of December 2024, almost 63% of all Windows users worldwide are using Windows 10, compared to about 34% who are using Windows 11.The Steam Hardware & Software Survey paints a better picture for Windows 11 gamers, with 54.96% utilizing Windows 11 and only 42.39% using Windows 10 as of the end of 2024.However, gamers tend to be on the cutting edge of hardware, commonly upgrading their components and devices to play the latest games with good performance.On the other hand, businesses and other consumers tend to lag behind as their older computers still run well, and there has not been a real need to upgrade yet.This Windows version transition is worse than when users migrated from Windows 7, as almost 70% of users were using Windows 10 before Windows 7 reached the end of support.”The situation is more dangerous than when support for Windows 7 ended in early 2020,” explains Urbanski.”Even before the official date, at the end of 2019, only around 20 percent of users were still using Windows 7. Over 70 percent were already using the new Windows 10. The current situation is extremely dangerous. Cyber criminals know these numbers very well and are just waiting for the day when support ends.”Many Windows 10 users have been hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 due to popular features being missing in the newer operating system, performance issues, and the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) hardware requirement, which is preventing some older devices from upgrading.The issue is compounded by the fact that many of these older devices run Windows 10, and likely Windows 11, without a problem, but they can’t be used because of a missing TPM.Microsoft recently stated that the Windows 11 TPM requirement is “non-negotiable” as it powers numerous security features, such as how the operating system stores cryptography keys and protects credentials, and is integrated with Secure Boot and Windows Hello for Business.For those who cannot upgrade their devices to Windows 10, Microsoft offers extended security updates (ESU) to businesses and consumers. However, they are not cheap.Businesses who wish to receive extended security updates can do so for three years, being charged $61 for the first year, $122 for the second year, and $244 for the third. This brings the total price for ESU on a Windows 10 device to $427 over three years.Microsoft is also offering a consumer ESU program for one year at $30 per device, which is more affordable but can get expensive if you have multiple devices in a household.Kali Linux 2024.4 released with 14 new tools, deprecates some featuresNew Windows Themes zero-day gets free, unofficial patchesMicrosoft may have scrapped Windows 11’s dynamic wallpapers featureGet started in ethical hacking with this $35 training bundle dealThe biggest cybersecurity and cyberattack stories of 2024Since there are six PC’s which I maintain, none of which have compliant TPM, the choice is clear: upgrade to an operating system, that will maintain security updates. All of these machines have been tested running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, and now 24.04 LTS, and those that are still dual-boot can move to Ubuntu-only after October 2025.
Installation and testing were fairly painless. Almost all software in use on Windows is available in a Linux version (e.g., LibreOffice suite, Calibre, Thunderbird, Firefox, Brave browser, Zoom Workplace, VLC, Proton VPN), or runs quite well under wine (e.g., 7-Zip, Sumatra PDF Reader, PDF-XChange Editor, Shotcut [Windows version works better than Linux])If Linux works for you, great.We’ll likely use 0patch until we’re ready to purchase new hardware.So… it’s guaranteed to happen.
The right mentality for this one is to build plan B for when it happens.
I’m switching to Linux on my PCs and immediate family, but I know enough that this won’t happen to most people I know, including friends who are considered “tech savvy” where I live.I’m going to keep using Windows 10 unless either Windows 11 starts to suck a whole lot less or Windows 12 comes out and happens to be good. I’ll gladly upgrade…. if Microsoft is covering the tab for my new build!
Somehow I doubt thats on the table, though.FWIW. Loaded W11 24H2 on an unsupported 2007 ‘chip-set’ device. Dumped me back to W10, as existed. SECURITY ISSUES PROMPT. The following link explains why I was ‘gonged out’. There’s a potential for a lot of unsupported W11 users being ‘gonged out’, when they upgrade to W11 24H2. Migrate to LINUX, maybe.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYSZjrXYyY
I’ve a W11 compliant device. Need a back-up; buy another one !I think the average computer user will run Windows 10 way past the EOL date similar to what happened with XP. 10 months away and Windows 10 still has 60+% market share. The amount of e-waste about to be generated by Microsoft’s requirements is going to be pretty uglyThen don’t force the user to use a Microsoft account. It’s ridiculous we have to jump through hoops to use a local account. The other thing i don’t like about 11 has to deal with the taskbar. On windows 10 you could “Use Small Icons” which made the taskbar smaller. On 11 you have to deal with a taskbar that takes up far more screen real estate.
The amount of e-waste this is going to generate is sickening. Between the added e-waste and MS losing progress toward net zero due to their power-hungry AI datacenters, they have effectively become one of the world’s largest polluters.
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