For a few years now Microsoft has been telling us that Windows 10 will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025. After this date, you will no longer receive free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes from Windows Update. So what does this mean for you and me? It means we’re on our own if we continue to run Windows 10. Computer virus developers know that many will choose to not upgrade to Windows 11 so the number of ‘attacks’ on more vulnerable Windows 10 PCs will increase. And as a Windows 10 user, investing in a credible antivirus program like AVG, Norton or McAfee might be worthy of consideration. And activating your Malwarebytes license might also be a good idea.
As a Windows 10 user I have been using Microsoft’s built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender. It’s free and quite capable, but after October 14 this year Defender will no longer receive updates for new threats. That’s a problem, and my rationale for recommending an alternative after October is so new threats to Windows 10 will be covered for some time.
Another question that comes up often is “can I just upgrade my current system to Windows 11?” The answer is ‘maybe’. Let me explain. In order for a Windows PC to be compatible with Windows 11 is must include the following:
- Processor: A 64-bit processor with a clock speed of 1 GHz or faster and at least two cores is required.
- Memory: 4 GB of RAM is the minimum requirement.
- Storage: A storage device with 64 GB or more available space is necessary.
- Graphics Card: The graphics card needs to support DirectX 12 or later and have a WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Display: The display must be at least 9 inches diagonally and have a high-definition (720p) resolution.
- Security: Your device needs to have a TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capability, and be using UEFI firmware.
You’re probably OK ’til you get to the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and UEFI requirements. This is where things get complicated, and if you’re like many of the other 1.4 billion Windows users, you have probably owned your PC or laptop for a few years and it’s likely not going to be compatible with Windows 11. When in doubt, Microsoft provides an app for that here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11?r=1#pchealthcheck
Go all the way to the bottom of the page where it says ‘Download PC Health Check app’ and click that:
This will tell you if you can upgrade. If you can, CONGRATS! And if you can’t, consider budgeting for a new computer. And if new is out of reach financially, there are good ‘refurbished’ hardware options as well. Windows 11 has been out there for a while so compatible hardware is now available for reasonable prices in that market. Here’s an example of a site that sells refurbished Windows 11 PCs: System Liquidation.
OK, so now you’re warned. Windows 10 is close to end-of-life and you really should consider upgrading to Windows 11 if you can. And if you don’t, like 490,000,000 of your closest friends, well then you might just want to take other precautions to guard against nefarious types that want to cause problems for more vulnerable PCs.
PS – As a consumer you will be able to sign up for a one-year ESU (Extended Security Updates) subscription for $30. This will only buy you one year since it can’t be renewed. This might be a good idea if you’re just not ready to make the leap to Windows 11…
And if you want to learn more about this topic, check out this ZDNET article ‘The ultimate Windows 11 upgrade guide: Everything you need to know‘.
