Recently, many people have likely noticed an important announcement: starting from October 14 next year, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10. So, what does this mean for everyone? Does it mean Windows 10 will no longer work, or is Microsoft forcing everyone to upgrade to Windows 11? By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding.
First, let’s clarify what it means when Microsoft stops supporting an operating system. Stopping support doesn’t mean that on that day, Windows 10 will stop functioning. It means Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, nor will there be any feature updates. In reality, this won’t affect users' ability to use the system. There are still people using Windows XP or Windows 7 and continuing with normal usage.
The main issue lies in security updates. Microsoft regularly provides updates not only to fix bugs and add new features but also primarily to provide security updates. The environment that operating systems face isn’t entirely safe, as new security risks emerge constantly. Beyond viruses, system and hardware vulnerabilities also become more exposed over time.
The purpose of security updates is to patch known vulnerabilities, thereby reducing the system's risk of being attacked.
When Microsoft stops supporting Windows 10 by ceasing to provide security updates, the impact on individuals isn’t too significant; it's mostly enterprises that will be affected. For hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities for profit, attacking individuals yields far less benefit than targeting corporate users. While individuals who are attacked might reinstall the system and move on, there may be cases of personal data theft, but the overall economic loss tends not to be very high. Of course, if highly private data is involved, it could lead to ransomware attacks, particularly for public figures, as seen in various past scandals.
For businesses, however, data is incredibly valuable, directly tied to economic outcomes. Especially for large companies, if attacked and critical data is stolen, they may face extortion demands in the millions or even billions.
Thus, the impact of Microsoft stopping Windows 10 support is larger for businesses. Microsoft often offers a paid service to businesses where, for a fee, they will continue to provide regular security updates. For companies, upgrading to Windows 11 isn’t always immediate, as they also need to consider compatibility with their internal software systems.
In conclusion, Microsoft stopping support for Windows 10 mainly means they will no longer offer security updates, which doesn’t affect the functionality of the Windows 10 system. The impact on individual users is minimal, as they can install third-party security software to enhance protection against attacks. The effect on businesses is more significant, as they may need to pay for continued security updates.
So, there’s no need to worry that Windows 10 will stop working after October 14, 2025. Even then, Windows 10 will still function as normal. The best approach is to increase security awareness and avoid accessing risky websites or files