If I use Windows 10 without official support, what security risks will I encounter?
Mark this date: October 14, 2025. From that moment on, Microsoft is saying goodbye to official support for Windows 10. This means that this version of the operating system will no longer receive maintenance and security updates, so continuing to use version 10 on your computer carries certain security risks that are worth paying attention to.
Once security updates are no longer available, any vulnerabilities discovered in Windows 10 after that date will remain permanently unpatched. And when we say anyone, we mean anyone, regardless of their expertise. In practice, this translates into a move by Microsoft to force us to move to Windows 11.
- The main disadvantages of your computer
- Security risks
Cybercriminals can take advantage of these vulnerabilities to try to inject malware into our computers and steal our credentials and bank accounts. The lack of updates greatly increases the risk of such incidents. An example of how this vulnerability was exploited was the Wannacry ransomware attack in 2017, where vulnerabilities in older versions of Windows were exploited. This affected hospitals, businesses, and governments around the world, and Microsoft was forced to issue an emergency patch for Windows XP to end the attack.
Furthermore, hackers often do not exploit a breach at the time they discover it, but rather wait for a situation such as an imminent loss of official support to attack the system when there are no defenses, in a cunning and illegitimate tactic.
- Hardware and software incompatibility
It is natural that developers constantly update their applications to adapt to new versions of operating systems. So it is likely that with a major update, or with several minor updates, the compatibility of the programs with our operating system will say goodbye. This can also affect the devices and leave us with more than one useless accessory.
- Maintenance costs
If you intend to stay up to date with the latest Windows 10 updates for a while, you will have no choice but to opt for Microsoft’s paid update program: Extended Security Updates (ESU). This may be a temporary measure, but it will require you to spend an amount of money that you may not be able to afford.
- Risks to network infrastructure
For business environments, unsupported devices can become prime targets for cybercriminals, who understand how businesses handle sensitive data. If a vulnerability is found on just one computer, the rest of the computers in the environment are also at risk.
Running Windows 10 without Microsoft support could expose us to a long list of security vulnerabilities that we will have little or no protection against. The steps you need to take on your part can range from moving to Windows 11 if you want to stay part of the Microsoft ecosystem to taking the alternative route with another operating system like Linux.