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The⁢ Looming End of Windows⁣ 10 Support and the Future of ⁢pcs

The official end of support for Windows 10 is rapidly approaching, raising concerns⁣ among security experts and driving a surge in the PC market. Microsoft will cease⁤ support on ⁣October 14th, ⁤2025, leaving systems vulnerable too emerging⁣ threats without continued security‍ updates.

Security professionals warn that ​continuing to use Windows 10 beyond ⁣this date poses important risks.​ Charaka Goonatilake, CTO at Panaseer, likened it to “leaving an open front door in a hazardous neighborhood,” highlighting the potential for permanent exposure to⁣ newly discovered vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals are anticipated to actively target unsupported systems with malware, phishing attacks, and ransomware.Beyond security,compatibility issues with newer software and hardware⁣ are also expected to increase.

Microsoft offers a temporary solution through‌ the Extended Security Updates ⁢(ESU) program, providing critical security patches‌ for Windows 10 for one year, until October ‍2026. ⁣The program is available for purchase,costing $30 for private⁣ users,but also offers free⁤ access under‌ specific conditions.‌ Users can obtain the ESU updates for free ‌by⁢ linking their⁤ PC settings to a Microsoft⁢ account and utilizing Windows⁣ Backup with ⁢OneDrive,‍ or by⁢ redeeming⁢ 1,000 Microsoft⁣ Rewards ‍points. ​Notably, citizens ‍of the European Union ⁣are eligible for the ESU program without the requirement of using Microsoft cloud services. It’s ‌important to note that the ESU program ⁣is⁣ a limited-term solution, offering security updates only and excluding new ​features or ‍technical support.

The impending end of ‌support is already impacting the PC‌ market. According to ⁣the ‍International‍ Data Corporation (IDC), global​ PC ⁢sales increased by 9.4 percent to 75.8 million ‍devices in the third quarter of 2025. Analysts attribute this ⁣growth directly to the approaching deadline, labeling it‍ an ⁣”immediate catalyst.”

However,many users are hesitant to upgrade,citing ⁢cost concerns or hardware incompatibility.This reluctance could lead to a substantial ⁤increase in electronic waste. Canalys estimates that up to 240 million PCs could become obsolete as their resale value diminishes without ongoing operating system support.

Looking ahead, ‍the industry is ​shifting towards ‌AI-powered PCs. Gartner ‍predicts that AI PCs will achieve a 31‍ percent market share by the end⁣ of 2025, and ‌become standard by 2029. This technological advancement is expected ​to further accelerate the ⁤transition away from older operating systems like Windows 10.

As millions of users navigate these challenges – balancing ‍security risks, upgrade costs, ⁤and environmental impact⁣ -‍ the era of Windows ⁣10 is drawing to ⁢a close, marking a significant shift in the landscape of personal computing.