Upgrade Now: Windows 10 Security Alert!

?ESET, a cybersecurity firm, is strongly recommending Windows 10 users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 or transitioning to Linux to avert a potential “security crisis” as the decade-old operating system approaches the end of support by October 2025.

Thorsten Urbanski, a security expert at ESET, cautions that the window of opportunity to avoid a security catastrophe in 2025 is rapidly closing. “We urge users not to delay until October, but rather make the switch to Windows 11 promptly or opt for an alternative operating system if their current device cannot support the latest Windows OS. Failure to do so exposes users to substantial security vulnerabilities, rendering them susceptible to perilous cyber threats and data compromise.”

Effective October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will no longer receive complimentary security updates, unless users opt for extended security updates at a cost. This leaves Windows 10 users vulnerable to newly discovered vulnerabilities, potentially resulting in severe breaches and widespread malware proliferation.

With approximately 32 million computers in Germany running Windows 10, constituting about 65% of household devices, the risk is pronounced. In contrast, Windows 11 is installed on only 33% of German devices, roughly 16.5 million units.

StatCounter validates these statistics, revealing that as of December 2024, nearly 63% of global Windows users are still reliant on Windows 10, while only about 34% have made the transition to Windows 11.

The Steam Hardware & Software Survey provides a more favorable outlook for Windows 11 gamers, with 54.96% already operating on Windows 11, compared to 42.39% on Windows 10 by the close of 2024.

While gamers are proactive in upgrading hardware for optimal performance, the transition for businesses and other consumers tends to lag, with older systems running sufficiently, albeit with increasing vulnerability.

With the impending Windows OS shift posing greater risks than the Windows 7 migration, the urgency for action is evident. Notably, the reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11 among Windows 10 users stems from missing features, performance concerns, and the stringent TPM hardware requirement hindering compatibility with older devices.

Microsoft’s unwavering stance on the TPM requirement underscores its critical role in bolstering security measures, particularly for encryption key storage, credential protection, and seamless integration with features like Secure Boot and Windows Hello for Business.

For users unable to migrate to Windows 11, Microsoft offers extended security updates (ESU) at a cost. Businesses can access ESU for three years, priced at $61 for the first year, $122 for the second year, and $244 for the third, totaling $427. A consumer ESU plan is also available for a year at $30 per device.