Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

..... My concern is so many less tech knowledgeable people are going to bundle over that deadline without really understanding the implications of it so long as their device turns on and works that's all that'll matter.

I'd imagine there will be literally millions of users that will do that. I know a few who are still using Windows 7 online and when I ask them do they realise there maybe implications they simply say "really; but I've been using it for years..."

 

[icowden]

The main elephant in the room for Windows 11 is Microsoft's insistence on the device supporting (and having active) a TPM2 chip. It is possible to bypass that requirement but it will be beyond the comfort level of most end users. That's why an estimated 64% of windows PCs are still on Windows 10 and why a good proportion will remain on Windows 10.

 

[PaulSB]

As to the OP, win 10 will probably be ok, especially if you use a live disk of some sort for secure stuff. You should still get a new machine though. 4GB of RAM hasn't been enough for a long time.

Can I ask why you say this?

I'm using a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 which is entering its 10th year. It has 4GB of RAM. The machine has been completely faultless for the past 9 years and I've never considered it under resourced in anyway.

I'll replace it this year but only because W10 will be unsupported. I have no other reason to buy a new machine.

 

[HMS_Dave]

Can I ask why you say this?

I'm using a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 which is entering its 10th year. It has 4GB of RAM. The machine has been completely faultless for the past 9 years and I've never considered it under resourced in anyway.

I'll replace it this year but only because W10 will be unsupported. I have no other reason to buy a new machine.

I'd be tempted to go at least another 12 months with 1 year of security updates from Microsoft. The first year isn't too bad price wise.

I've got a laptop from 2008 running Linux with 4gb of DDR2 ram and im able to type up invoices and emails. The battery is dead, but it is still a low powered, useful machine.

 

[PaulSB]

I'd be tempted to go at least another 12 months with 1 year of security updates from Microsoft. The first year isn't too bad price wise.

I've got a laptop from 2008 running Linux with 4gb of DDR2 ram and im able to type up invoices and emails. The battery is dead, but it is still a low powered, useful machine.

Thank you. I wasn't aware of this. It seems a consumer ESU is $30 USD.

 

[icowden]

I'll replace it this year but only because W10 will be unsupported. I have no other reason to buy a new machine.

Honestly, I'd just stick with it if you are happy with it. It's not going to magically stop working or blow up. If it ain't broke - don't fix it.

If you want to go to Windows 11, it will work fine. There is chap who has done it here:-
https://tech.scargill.net/surface-pro-4-windows-11-or-not/

He even includes a link to a youtube video showing you how to do it.

 

[PaulSB]

Honestly, I'd just stick with it if you are happy with it. It's not going to magically stop working or blow up. If it ain't broke - don't fix it.

If you want to go to Windows 11, it will work fine. There is chap who has done it here:-
https://tech.scargill.net/surface-pro-4-windows-11-or-not/

He even includes a link to a youtube video showing you how to do it.

Thank you. I don't want to replace the machine as it's a) wasteful and b) there's no other reason to. It's useful to know about the "conversion" but for the moment I'll probably stick with the ESU option. This is simply because I'm quite capable of messing up the simplest instructions.

I realise it won't stop working, my concern is only security. Aside from one small bank issue we have never encountered scamming/fraud/hacking etc. This is not because we're super cautious or paranoid but that I ensure we act sensibly and don't expose ourselves to the dangers. Hence my thoughts on ditching W10.

Thanks to you and @HMS_Dave for good advice which will allow me to continue using a great little machine.

 

[si_c]

Thank you. I don't want to replace the machine as it's a) wasteful and b) there's no other reason to. It's useful to know about the "conversion" but for the moment I'll probably stick with the ESU option. This is simply because I'm quite capable of messing up the simplest instructions.

I realise it won't stop working, my concern is only security. Aside from one small bank issue we have never encountered scamming/fraud/hacking etc. This is not because we're super cautious or paranoid but that I ensure we act sensibly and don't expose ourselves to the dangers. Hence my thoughts on ditching W10.

Thanks to you and @HMS_Dave for good advice which will allow me to continue using a great little machine.

I've stopped using web based banking, the mobile apps are just as capable and a lot more secure. Won't stop you being stupid and sending money to someone yourself but I think for most people they are now the most secure way to bank electronically.

 

[Dadam]

At the end of the day it's up to you and your risk appetite. I'd definitely upgrade to W11 if you can. If you don't, please don't pooh-pooh the risks like some have. They are real. Small probability but potentially high impact. The risk will start out small after support ends but risk exposure increases gradually the longer out of support you get.

It's true Windows isn't the security nightmare it used to be years ago, it's probably as good now as most of the others, but the threats are more numerous these days and Windows is still targeted way more because of market share and the legacy of being perceived as full of holes.

So, I'd take other steps to mitigate your risk. Keep Defender up to date. Do regular full scans. Don't be blasé about allowing every app to communicate as if it's on a private network. Enable MFA on not only banking but any service that holds your personal data. As si_c says consider not banking at all on that machine.
Do a spring clean. Remove apps that you don't use/need, it might help performance too. If an app you need is on the Windows Store as well as having an installer get it from there. But you probably don't want to be installing too much on a machine with 4Gb anyway.

 

[Dadam]

Well it does because you have not only your routers firewall but also the Windows Defender firewall. The incoming SMB traffic would not be allowed.

Defender is ok but it depends on the user classifying the access required and the implications aren't always clear to the end user. It also gives internal windows services a pass and doesn't ask the user at all. The SMB service for example wouldn't have been flagged up at all (because how many end users would be able to make an informed choice).

Anyway, as I've mentioned multiple times, the risk isn't necessarily existing known exploits like EternalBlue, it's the new ones that are beomg discovered all the time and come next Autumn, won't be patched any more for W10.

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

As to the OP, win 10 will probably be ok, especially if you use a live disk of some sort for secure stuff. You should still get a new machine though. 4GB of RAM hasn't been enough for a long time.

Can I ask why you say this?

I'm using a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 which is entering its 10th year. It has 4GB of RAM. The machine has been completely faultless for the past 9 years and I've never considered it under resourced in anyway.

I'll replace it this year but only because W10 will be unsupported. I have no other reason to buy a new machine.

My 4GB of RAM works OK with W10, the laptop will even prompt and allow a W11 full install, but it's then that the 4GB of RAM is not enough, updates can literally take days to complete and even when they have installed it's slow in use to the extent it's not viable, so I reverted back to W10; I've tried it three times now and each time it's just not up to it.

I have been experimenting for a few months with Linux 'Mint', 'Zorin' and 'Ubuntu', all run off a USB with a partition, very easy to set up using 'Rufus'. I can edit and save files on my C Drive and anything set up like browser bookmarks, settings and saved files are remembered when next in use, without a partition you have to set up from scratch each time. I have also tried 'Chrome OS Flex' although it seems I can't use a partition then edit and save files on my C Drive; my favourite to date is Zorin. I have worked out that there are options and workarounds enabling me to do what I had been enjoying on W10. I still like iTunes to buy MP3 music for example, not easy to install then get to work properly with Linux, but I can use Amazon to buy Mp3 music instead; which works perfectly on Linux. A popular Photoshop alternative is called 'Gimp', I already use LibreOffice instead of 'Word' so there is no transition to learn in that respect.

Some of those links take you to my go to YouTube channel for advice, 'explainingcomputers.com': I've found them very informative and put across in a plain and simply manner which I personally need as a new Linux user, linked to here in case others who may be reading this thread who are in a similar position to myself may find them of value.

I am gaining confidence to the extent that come 14 October 25 if W10 does make me feel vulnerable I will do a full instore of Zorin.

 

[Alex321]

Like most, im not a IT expert, just a user. Over 20 years of running both MACS and Windows at work I know which brand is the most reliable and less effected by SPAM and viruses. The additional cost is peanuts compared with the lost time with windows based issues.

i understand that many IT people don’t like MACS but in my experience that’s because they can’t manipulate them to the same degree, maybe that’s through lack of training or the unknown. But when I sit at my desk this morning my MAC will boot up and work, unlike the the windows users who weekly get updates that slow things down and don’t work with all of the software.

That depends a lot on what you mean by "IT people". Most IT developers will argue that MACs are better, but many will also argue they are overpriced - you pay a premium for the design over functionality.

I use a Macbook Pro for work, and a Windows (10) as my home computer. Both are good, and generally have been reliable, though the Windows one is starting to have occasional problems.

I won't change to a Mac for home use, both because of the price and the fact my wife is NOT an IT person, and is used to Windows.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I've stopped using web based banking, the mobile apps are just as capable and a lot more secure. Won't stop you being stupid and sending money to someone yourself but I think for most people they are now the most secure way to bank electronically.

People need to be careful with these, they aren't perfect. Mobile phone fraud: 'They stole £22,500 using my banking app'. He was protected by Facial Recognition on his device and PIN on the app.

The bank ultimately ruled against him saying that the PIN for the app was entered correctly, he also did little to protect himself after the theft until the next morning when he logged in to online banking. As soon as he noticed the phone loss he should be phoning the bank to notify and get them to deny all access to online, stop all cards etc.

This might still have a happy ending for him as the ombudsman recently upheld his complaint though he hasn't got the money back yet.

 

[si_c]

People need to be careful with these, they aren't perfect. Mobile phone fraud: 'They stole £22,500 using my banking app'. He was protected by Facial Recognition on his device and PIN on the app.

The bank ultimately ruled against him saying that the PIN for the app was entered correctly, he also did little to protect himself after the theft until the next morning when he logged in to online banking. As soon as he noticed the phone loss he should be phoning the bank to notify and get them to deny all access to online, stop all cards etc.

This might still have a happy ending for him as the ombudsman recently upheld his complaint though he hasn't got the money back yet.

Nothing is perfect for sure. Perhaps I'm going on my experience of using the Natwest app - any time I send any money to someone I haven't before or a larger than usual transaction I'm prompted to put provide an image of myself in the camera. This is then compared to an image that Natwest retain rather than being held on my phone.

I also use a smart lock system so I don't need to enter a PIN to use my phone, but the moment it gets more than a few meters away from my watch it automatically locks itself an needs a PIN entered or unlocked with the fingerprint sensor. It gives me some reassurance that the system is as safe as is reasonably practical. Online banking through a browser is far less safe as the browser can be compromised let alone the OS.

At least in the case above it looks as though the regulator is doing it's job and ensuring a refund. It's frustrating the Barclays are unable to elaborate on what actually happened that lack of transparency is concerning.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Nothing is perfect for sure. Perhaps I'm going on my experience of using the Natwest app - any time I send any money to someone I haven't before or a larger than usual transaction I'm prompted to put provide an image of myself in the camera. This is then compared to an image that Natwest retain rather than being held on my phone.

I also use a smart lock system so I don't need to enter a PIN to use my phone, but the moment it gets more than a few meters away from my watch it automatically locks itself an needs a PIN entered or unlocked with the fingerprint sensor. It gives me some reassurance that the system is as safe as is reasonably practical. Online banking through a browser is far less safe as the browser can be compromised let alone the OS.

At least in the case above it looks as though the regulator is doing it's job and ensuring a refund. It's frustrating the Barclays are unable to elaborate on what actually happened that lack of transparency is concerning.

If I was to read between the lines I think they were hoping to pin some blame (partially warranted I think) on him for not reporting it earlier. Had he phoned them immediately they would have no excuse for suddenly allowing his accounts to be emptied.