Microsoft warns 240 million Windows users of an impending danger: Give up using computers.
For Windows 10, October 14 will be a pivotal day. Microsoft has declared that it will discontinue support for the operating system, as you may already be aware, leaving millions of devices open to serious security flaws and cyberattacks.
Owners of the estimated 240 million PCs that are ineligible for the Windows 11 upgrade are faced with the challenging decision of either recycling them or taking the chance of using them further.
The company was clear in its warnings: unsupported computers would be an "easy target" for hackers and malware. Without security updates, these devices would be vulnerable to data breaches, identity theft, and other highly sophisticated and serious threats.
However, this transition is not easy for everyone, and many users face a difficult dilemma regarding what to do with computers that are fully functional but have become technologically outdated.
While Microsoft offers a great idea of recycling it to reduce its environmental impact, other experts suggest alternatives such as installing different operating systems, such as Linux, to give your computer a second life.
The problem becomes even more complex when combined with the lack of affordable options for those who cannot afford a new computer. While some devices come with extended support for an annual fee, this will only be available until October 2026 and ultimately does not address the issue for those whose devices do not meet the minimum requirements.
Unfortunately, there are millions of fully functional PCs that can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to requirements like TPM 2.0. According to Lansweeper, 43% of enterprise PCs don't meet these requirements.