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Microsoft is end of support On Tuesday, one of the world’s most popular operating systems faced a cyberattack and data theft that left millions of people vulnerable to cyber attacks.
From 14th October, Microsoft Will no longer provide security and feature updates windows 10Despite this, more than 40 percent of all Windows users are still running the software.
An estimated 5 million people in the UK still use laptops and PCs running Windows 10, according to a recent survey by consumer group Which? Suggesting that a quarter of them intend to continue using it even after the deadline has passed.
Whether Windows 10 users are upgrading or not, security experts advise them to create a complete backup of their data in case of a cyberattack or any issues with their system upgrade.
Any devices that continue to run Windows 10 after the deadline has passed will also likely lose functionality and see a drop in their performance.
Cyber security Consultant Matt Balderstone, who works at IT platform CyberArk, warned that there is an “urgent” need to upgrade any systems running Windows 10 – otherwise they risk a repeat of disastrous events of the past. wannacry attack Which targeted the NHS.
He explained, “Once Windows 10 reaches its end of life, millions of machines will be exposed to future vulnerabilities that will never be fixed due to the lack of security updates, creating prime conditions for attackers to exploit legacy systems.” Independent,
“In an era of unprecedented cyber risk, with new cyber attacks targeting businesses every day, a Windows 10 machine is now too much. It is important that consumers and businesses work to update their systems by the deadline to protect their operations from security risks.”
People with eligible devices can upgrade to Windows 11 for free, or sign up for Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
Experts warn that anyone who has not upgraded, or enrolled in ESU, by the October 14 deadline should be especially wary of suspicious phone calls, emails and pop-ups.
“The end of support is not the end of the world, but it is the end of the free security mesh,” said Luis Corones, a security expert at cyber defense firm Avast.
“Attackers know this, which is why unpatched Windows and driver bugs become long-lived entry points. It’s also an opportunity for scammers. People may see fake pop-ups, upgrade offers or even receive phone calls pretending to be from Microsoft.”