Why Sticking With Windows 10 Could Be Risky

Even after its official end of support, a staggering number of PCs continue to operate on Windows 10. If your machine is among them and you haven't transitioned to Windows 11, it's crucial to consider securing an Extended Security Updates (ESU) plan. For general users, these updates are complimentary until October 2026.

The Grave Consequences of Neglect

Delaying updates leaves your system vulnerable to cyber attacks. Historical precedents show that cybercriminals are quick to target systems lacking patches, leading to potentially devastating outcomes. To illustrate, let's revisit the scenario when a previous Windows version ceased to receive official updates.

Learning From Windows 7's End

When Windows 7's support ended, consumers no longer received necessary security updates. Although an Extended Security Updates program was available for businesses, it proved costly for many. Consequently, by the beginning of 2021, a significant number of devices still ran on this outdated system.

Predictably, this led to increased opportunities for ransomware groups to attack these unprotected systems. As time went by without new security patches, the risk of exploitation grew significantly.

The Persistent Threat of Cyber Crime

Even as some hacker groups faded, others emerged with equal determination to exploit unsupported software. Notably, following Windows 7's support cessation, there was the widespread fiasco of the PrintNightmare vulnerability in 2021, forcing Microsoft to issue emergency patches despite the official end of support eighteen months prior.

A similar occurrence was observed following the cessation of Windows XP support, with global attacks so widespread that it necessitated an unplanned patch to mitigate damage.

Silent Threats and Patching Dilemmas

Issues typically don't capture headlines unless they lead to large-scale incidents, but vulnerabilities left unaddressed continue to put organizations at risk of being breached, often with significant repercussions.

Predicting and preventing these attacks is challenging. They often exploit multiple minor vulnerabilities, which collectively can be devastating when skillfully combined by attackers.

The Importance of Timely Updates

Consistent with what was observed after Windows 10's support ended, Microsoft continues to release security updates, rated by their potential for exploitation. Notably, after support ceased, critical vulnerabilities were still identified, which could grant hackers system privileges if left unpatched.

While some current security issues need local access to exploit, it's likely almost inevitable that remotely exploitable attacks will surface. It's prudent to ensure your system is fully updated and supported to avoid being caught off guard.