![\"Windows](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759709532_698_960x0.jpg\")
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Are you now at risk?<\/p>\n
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Microsoft has a \u201csecurity disaster\u201d on its hands. Up to 400 million Windows users must now brace for a \u201cuniquely troubling\u201d threat that leaves their PCs suddenly at risk. If this warning affects you, you\u2019re running out of time to act. Do not leave it too late.<\/p>\n
New data suggests Windows 10 is still running on 41%<\/a> of all PCs. That\u2019s a sharp drop from the 46% market share at the end of September. But it\u2019s too little too late late. In 10 days, security updates will end for users not enrolled in Microsoft\u2019s extended support option. This means paying $30 or ticking the right boxes to snag an extension for free.<\/p>\n ForbesDon\u2019t Agree To Share Your Screen\u2014FBI Phantom Hacker WarningBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n That 41% equates to almost 600 million PCs. Of that, it is assumed up to 400 million cannot upgrade to Windows 11 given mandatory hardware hurdles. Older PCs without the right components can\u2019t upgrade. Not without a green-fingered workaround<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cBy contrast,\u201d advocacy group PIRG says in its warning<\/a>, \u201cwhen support for Windows 8 ended in January 2016, only 3.7% of Windows users were still using it. Only 2.2% of Windows users were still using Windows 8.1 when support ended in January 2023.”<\/p>\n This follows similar warnings from Consumer Reports<\/a> and EuroConsumers<\/a>, with the latter pointing out Microsoft is \u201cphasing out Windows 10 on a much shorter timeline than in the past.\u201d Just four years after the launch of Windows 11.”<\/p>\n Windows 10 deadline is almost here.<\/p>\n StatCounter<\/p>\n PIRG describes the scale of the impact here as \u201cstaggering,” and says it \u201ccan be traced to the popularity of Windows 10 and Microsoft\u2019s decisions to impose strict hardware requirements in order to upgrade to Windows 11.\u201d<\/p>\n PIRG\u2019s original focus was the e-waste of hundreds of millions of PCs<\/a> rendered useless. Although enterprising secondary marketeers are pushing Linux and Chromebook OS alternatives for otherwise good-enough hardware for which Windows is closed.<\/p>\n PIRG echoes warnings from the cybersecurity community. \u201cWhen there are no more updates, quickly-addressed exploits become open doors.\u201d Which means \u201cransomware gangs and other malicious actors will be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of millions of unpatched \u2013 and unpatchable endpoints \u2013 after October 14,\u201d<\/p>\n