Al things must end soon. This time is free Windows 10 security updates from Microsoft.
Windows 10 user will soon need to either upgrade to Windows 11 or pay for the "Extended Security Update" to keep their devices protected.
The paid security update will take place after Microsoft stopped all support on the Windows 10 system in 2025. The current 22H2 version will be the last update for Windows 10.
Companies paying for the Windows 365 subscription connected to a Windows 11 device will have the security support for free.
Microsoft last employed the ESU for Windows 7 when it was deprecated in 2019 up until January this year. The popular Windows OS received live updates until 2020, over a decade after it was first launched in 2009.
Windows Extended Security Update Features
The ESU is similar to the regular security updates Microsoft rolls out, except it is now paid.
In a blog Microsoft released on Tuesday, the ESU will include critical security updates to remove vulnerabilities in the Windows 10 OS.
However, the ESU will not include "new features, customer-requested non-security updates, or design change requests" seen in the regular security updates.
The ESU is expected to run three years after the product's end-of-service date. After that, it becomes riskier to use the OS while accessing the internet.
Microsoft encourages its customers to upgrade to Windows 11 soon for better security services.
Related Article : Microsoft Retires Anti-Virus Tool Amid AI-Powered Hackings. Here's What You Need to Know
Why Are People Still Using Windows 10?
Eight years well after its release, Windows 10 remains popular among Windows users. A successor for the reliable Windows 7 service after the flop that is Windows 8.
According to Statcounter data, Windows 10 still contribute to nearly 70% of Windows' market share worldwide with 27% only from Windows 11.
Windows 11's bad release and compatibility issues only serve to retain the people's trust in the near-decade-old operating system.
Windows 10 remains the portable powerhouse with its capability to connect with devices and hardware, both old and new.
