Windows 10’s End of Life: A Ticking Time Bomb for Your Security!”

🚨 Attention, Windows users! After October 14, 2021, using Windows 10 could be like leaving your front door wide open for hackers. Here’s why:

🛑 No More Security Updates: After this date, Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10. This means no more critical patches to protect your system from emerging threats.

📈 Millions of Unprotected Computers: Our research shows that a staggering 30% of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are still running Windows 10, leaving millions of computers vulnerable.

💥 Attackers’ Dream Come True: With so many unpatched systems, threat actors will have a field day exploiting known vulnerabilities. We’ve seen this happen before – 40%-60% of global breaches involve unpatched vulnerabilities.

🔐 Why the Hold-Up? The strict hardware requirements for Windows 11 are to blame. If your computer is from 2018 or later, you’re likely good to go. But older machines, estimated to be hundreds of millions worldwide, can’t meet the cut.

🛑 Don’t Try to Bypass Microsoft’s Check: While there are workarounds, they won’t make your system supported by Microsoft, leading to future issues and incompatibility problems.

💭 Microsoft’s Stance: While some criticize Microsoft for leaving older machines behind, the reality is that modern hardware features like TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot are crucial for enhanced security.

💡 What Can You Do? You have three options: upgrade to Windows 11, decommission and replace your Windows 10 machine, or purchase Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESUs).

📅 Act Now: If you’re still running Windows 10 after October 14 without ESUs, attackers will have a blueprint to find and exploit unpatched machines. Plus, you’ll likely violate compliance standards and void your cyber liability insurance.

💰 ESUs: A Temporary Fix: If you can’t upgrade or replace systems, purchase ESUs immediately. They’re available annually for up to three years, with prices ranging from $1 to $244 per machine, depending on whether you’re an educational institution or a business.

💻 Upgrade or Replace ASAP: After purchasing ESUs, prioritize upgrading or replacing systems to avoid maintenance issues and potential data breaches.

🔒 Don’t Be a Sitting Duck: Swift action is crucial. Don’t wait for an attack to happen – take steps now to protect your systems and data.

🔑 Can’t Find Your Windows Key? Check out our list of the best Windows product key finder software to help you out!

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro’s Expert Insights channel, featuring insights from industry experts. The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you’re interested in contributing, visit [TechRadarPro’s submission guidelines](https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro).

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