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Microsoft to discontinue support for Windows 10

Microsoft is cautioning users that on Oct. 14, 2025, Windows will no longer give free software updates for Windows 10. This means elevated security risk for everyone using this operating system, unless they upgrade to Windows 11 or pay to receive additional security updates through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program, which will support updates through October 13, 2026. In other words, this will buy users another year before they will once again be forced to upgrade regardless. Read more.

What you can do

  • Unfortunately, not all devices will support this newest version of Windows, but if you’re running Windows 10 and if your laptop supports Windows 11, now’s the time to upgrade.
  • Chances are that you can also run other operating systems on your device. Maybe 2025 is the year of Linux on desktop. I know some people have very strong feelings about this, but with so many versions of Linux out there, people might be a little intimidated about getting started. There are some meaningful advantages to free and open source software. not only because the price is right but because you really control how it works. Getting started somewhere is the most important thing, and don’t get too hung up on it, because a lot of how you use one Linux distribution is transferable to other versions as well. Check out this guide to learn more.
  • If you’re OK with Google and are looking for a user-friendly experience, ChromeOS Flex may also be a decent choice for a free alternative to Windows 10 that you can install on your old hardware. This has been a way for me to get more life out of an ancient MacBook that otherwise would have joined the big database in the sky. ChromeOS has a lot of compelling advantages for security, promising a decade of updates for recent devices. It’s also a relatively safe environment for opening suspicious files or for using as a travel computer before wiping the device. Check out Wired’s guide to learn how to set it up.

Updates from our team

  • One of our senior digital security trainers, Davis Erin Anderson, is taking over the newsletter during the remainder of October. If you like scary stories, you’ll want to read her newsletters starting next week!
  • We’ve made some updates to our guide to smartphone security. It turns out Google no longer supports Android File Transfer, which was previously the official way to connect Android devices to MacBooks for making backups. We have a workaround though, so check out the guide.

Our team is always ready to assist journalists with digital security concerns. Reach out here, and stay safe and secure out there.

Best,
Martin

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Martin Shelton
Deputy Director of Digital Security
Freedom of the Press Foundation