Autumn will be marked by the end of Windows 10. What will it do to our computer systems?
Many people, businesses, schools and public institutions are in for an unpleasant surprise in mid-October. They will be left with functional, but "outdated" computer hardware Windows 10, which will no longer meet security requirements and probably even the operation itself over time. How can you avoid such troubles?
Support for Windows 10 will end in October. The computer system, which has gained popularity among roughly two-thirds of the world's population and nearly half of the domestic population over the last ten years, is simply going into retirement. Therefore, from October 15, there will be no more security updates, bug fixes, or new features available.
Safety comes first
What does this mean in practice? The system will still work, but it will no longer be safe or compatible with other applications. So it will not be protected against viruses, malware, and ransomware either.
"Even though the system may seem to be functioning as usual, without updates it remains vulnerable to hacker attacks, viruses, and other harmful programs. These can, for example, encrypt data, monitor your activity or misuse personal information. It is also likely that attackers will begin to target Windows 10 specifically after support ends, because the system will no longer be protected against new types of threats,"
Recently, Roman Šubrt, the head of product marketing for Datart retailer, explained to the Czech Press Office.
Operation in question
Gradually, even new versions of popular applications will become dysfunctional. The reason? Developers focus mainly on modern operating systems that are promising in the long term.
As a result, there may be problems with the installation and launching of programs or connecting to Wi-Fi, VPN networks, or secure websites. In the future, the user may not even be able to access their online banking or data mailbox.
Some older computers may not handle the transition to the newer Windows 11, as they will lack the security chip, without which the new system will not work. Additionally, it will not be possible to install this chip into laptops afterwards.
Programs from Microsoft's office suite can indeed be run directly, however, they may encounter performance or reliability issues. This will manifest itself in crashes.
The situation may be particularly critical for some state or non-profit organisations. Particularly state ones are tied by complex legal regulations for public procurement. Non-profit organizations are often troubled by a lack of any financial resources to rely on in their operations.
According to the IDC study, nevertheless, nearly 80 percent of companies worldwide plan to refresh their PCs by the end of 2025. IDC expects that 70 percent of regular users will buy a new computer over the next two years.
"The new system brings a higher level of security, a more modern environment and better performance,"
Šubrt highlights the advantages of Windows 11.
Advice for tins
Those who do not want to change can postpone their transition from Windows 10 for a year. However, they must pay 30 dollars for extended security updates. Subscribers should have this for free.
In addition, Microsoft offers to continue using Windows 10 until 2028 through support for Microsoft 365 applications.
However, if a problem occurs with Microsoft 365 applications in Windows 10, Microsoft support will ask the customer to switch to Windows 11. If such a user can't switch to a more modern system, the support will only provide him with help in solving problems.
Competition Never Sleeps
Due to the necessity of transitioning to a new system, Microsoft's competition has also woken up, trying to offer different solutions. For example, according to the claims of the technology brand Forscope, there are evidently alternatives for organizations dependent on Windows 10 such as extended security updates from Microsoft that are often unaffordable. This software broker allegedly offers Windows licenses with savings of up to 80 percent compared to standard prices.
"A strategic approach to phasing out Windows 10 support can save 15–25 percent compared to a simple upgrade. For example, one of the organizations we helped with modernization reduced software costs by 30 percent while maintaining full compliance with regulations,"
said Mateusz Drozdowski, the brand's representative for the Czech Republic, for LP-Life.
A large proportion of experts still advise that it is better to transition to Windows 11. Not only do you get a new system with higher security, but also a more modern environment with linkages to modern tools such as artificial intelligence and Copilot, which are currently a huge trend.
Sources: author's article, ČTK
