The global technology industry is heading towards a unprecedented cybersecurity crisis due to the end of Windows 10 support and the tens of millions of personal computers that will (potentially) be left without security patches capable of withstanding cyber attacks.
All security analysts have been warning of the consequences of the end of the Windows 10 life cycle scheduled for October 14, 2025. At the start of the new year, ESET has once again sounded the alarm and what it can mean for consumers and companies: «There are minutes left to avoid a security fiasco in 2025. We strongly urge you not to wait until October. Upgrade to Windows 11 now or choose an alternative operating system if your device is not compatible with the latest version. Otherwise, they expose themselves to significant security risks, including dangerous cyberattacks and data breaches.”
ESET specialists rely on the huge market share of Windows 10 in the area of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which is estimated at 32 million machines and 65% of the total in desktop operating systems. This data is comparable to the world average share, which is estimated at 62% at the end of 2024.
Windows 10 support and the security crisis
The story is known. Windows 11 has not convinced consumers or companies and has not been able to corner the market despite the free update program launched by Microsoft. 2025 has arrived and if your share doesn’t go up enough before the end of life of Windows 10 in October 2025, the industry will find itself with tens of millions of obsolete computers and what is worse, also insecure as they do not have the corresponding security patches.
There are many analysts who estimate that Microsoft would have to extend Windows 10 technical support by default to avoid the security crisis, taking into account that the end of the Windows 10 life cycle It is a commercial measure and not a technical one.. Microsoft has regulated the duration of each of its operating systems before its launch and it is obvious that Windows 10 could last much longer than the month of October.
An example that Windows 10 could be used for much longer is the Extended Security Program (ESU) that Microsoft announced and that, as defined by the company “provides people and organizations of all sizes with the option to expand the use of Windows 10 on devices beyond the end of support date in a more secure way ».
ESET warns of the problem, especially in companies
ESET stresses that companies must act quickly, as relying on outdated systems is a “blatant negligence”. Warns that unsupported devices are priority targets for ransomware and espionage attacks. “In the worst case scenario, these computers can become the starting point for data losses, ransomware incidents or even large-scale cyberattacks”.
The risks go beyond personal devices. Businesses still using Windows 10 could face data protection compliance issues, lawsuits, or lost productivity due to software and hardware incompatibilities.
The company does not consider the paid extended support plan for Windows 10 to be a solution, as the costs are very high and increase every year: “prolonging support is costly and completely ignoring updates could result in insurers rejecting claims in the event of a breach as outdated technology violates the compliance standard”. In addition, it is worth clarifying that ESU is not a technical support program, nor does it include new functions, features, quality or design changes for the operating system, and limited to providing monthly security updates.
ESET specialists consider that the current situation is worse than when Windows 7 support ended in 2020. At the end of 2019, more than 70 percent of users had already switched to Windows 10, while only around 20 percent percent were still on Windows 7. Today, the transition to Windows 11 is much slowerwhich creates a dangerous environment. “Cybercriminals are well aware of these figures and are waiting for the end of support date. “Once it arrives, vulnerabilities will be exploited en masse”.
And Microsoft’s decision to stop supporting Windows 10 without guaranteeing a more fluid update path has left millions of users in limbo. Those who cannot upgrade to Windows 11 are recommended to consider other safe alternatives that involve a migration to GNU Linux, others such as Google’s ChromeOS Flex or the jump to Apple’s Macs.
In addition, ESET recommends taking immediate actions that are consistent with any computer security manual: update to the latest version of Windows, use security software, limit administrative privileges, and perform regular backups. «Users and companies must act now. Waiting until October will be too late to avoid the risks »they warn.
