It has been known for some time now that the expiration date of Windows 10 is officially marked. There are still about two years left, as it will not occur until the increasingly closer month of October 2025, but, from that date, more than 240 million computers will be exposed to cyber attacks.
It is important to have security habits that cover the user’s back, when Windows 10 stops receiving support, any hacker could find security vulnerabilities that will no longer be fixed by the company for free. Therefore, in this situation that will begin in October 2025, five different scenarios open up, although some are more recommended than others.
5 paths in the twilight of Windows 10
- 1. Do not take any action. This is undoubtedly the option that will tempt many users the most, who will want to act as if nothing had happened and continue with their lives. However, it is by far the most dangerous option of all. At first, there may not be the same risk because it is “recently abandoned”, but as the weeks go by, this guarantee quickly dissolves and any vulnerability could be fatal, potentially resulting in the loss of personal or even banking data.
- 2. Switch to the paid plan. From October 2025 to October 2028, Windows 10 will continue to receive updates for a fee. The price and how this payment system will work is not yet known, but if money is not a problem for you and it is essential to stay with Windows 10, this is a useful option. Now, Microsoft licenses are not usually known for being cheap or affordable, so it’s best to have your checkbook ready.
- 3. Upgrade to Windows 11. This is another of the easiest options, although not everyone will be able to do it on their devices. In fact, one of the reasons for the low adoption of Windows 11 among the computer park is that it is a very demanding operating system in terms of hardware, compared to previous versions of Windows.
- 4. Upgrade specific hardware to switch to Windows 11. If you have a customized PC, by upgrading the relevant components you will be able to make the leap to Windows 11. If it involves completely changing your PC, it can also be an interesting option and it will imply a significant qualitative leap, although these options can be the most expensive.
- 5. Switch away from Windows. Open source software is another plausible option for those who prefer to switch to systems like Linux instead of “going along with” Microsoft. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a definitive departure, since many experts point out that Windows 12 could arrive in 2024, and if Microsoft listened to its users, they will have corrected the aspects that make so many users reluctant to make the leap to Windows 11.
