Microsoft Update Warning—70% Of All Windows Users Now At Risk

[RV_]

First off that headline may seem to be clickbait until you read the full article. It is accurate for folks who do not do Windows updates unaware that a major vulnerability in Windows 10 is now being actively exploited resulting in drastic measures for the remaining government Windows 10 systems.

I gave in last week and am finishing upgrading the last of my computers to Windows 11. They are all eligible my oldest being an 8th gen i7 in my Dell Windows 10 Pro touchscreen AIO I upgraded to 11 last week. Today I am upgrading the last two - our two 11th Gen i5 - 1135G7 Surface Pro 7+ tablets.  I have been running 11 for about a year on our three Dell main 10th and 11th gen desktops, and my newest toy, the Morefine M8S that came with 11 Preloaded. I just ran into an error upgrading the second Surface Pro7+ after doping the identical unit just fine. SO at least do Windows updates and then decide if you want new hardware if need to go to 11 or if you want to take your chances after October 2025.

Excerpt:

"This has not been a good few weeks for Microsoft. Fresh from the Recall recoil, CrowdStrike struck, with various ups and downs with Copilot momentum in between. But the constant throughout has been an impending security nightmare for the vast majority of its Windows users, now just months away.

We’re talking Windows 10, of course, and the staggeringly painful campaign to warn hundreds of millions of holdouts that they need to upgrade to Windows 11. Back in June, I reported on the latest Microsoft nag—a full-screen warning that “end of support for Windows arrives on October 14, 2025; this means your desktop won’t receive technical support or security updates after that date.”

If there was any doubt as to the real danger in leaving Windows unprotected, then Monday’s US government warning should quickly change minds. A 2018 Windows vulnerability has been added to its Exploited Vulnerability (KEV) catalog. “Microsoft COM for Windows,” CISA warns, “contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that allows for privilege escalation and remote code execution.”

Users have been given until August 26 to patch or cease using Windows systems. Clearly, this 2018 vulnerability does not impact Windows 11, nor any other Windows system updated in the last six years. The Windows 10 risk, though, is real.

This is a good example as to why the prospect of hundreds of millions of Windows users heading towards end-of-support is a security nightmare. Maybe, just maybe, users are now starting to listen—albeit not enough, not nearly fast enough. As Windows specialist Neowin has just reported, “in July 2024, Windows 11 hit an important milestone: for the first time since its launch in October 2021, the operating system crossed the 30% market share mark.” Just. With the latest stats from Statcounter showing better than 7% year-over-year growth for Windows 11.

But that means that more than twice as many Microsoft Windows users are still not using Windows 11 than those that are. Even now. Three-years post launch.

Window 11 isn’t at all new, and all those converts and non-converts know its pros and cons; so setting aside a Copilot AI-driven boost, the question is whether this is a trend or a blip. Certainly, when you look at Statcounter’s Windows 10 chart decline over the last year (above), the line chart is not something you could ski down. Similarly, Windows 11 growth is an easy stroll up a gently slope, to put it mildly.

The full article with the comments is here:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2024/08/05/microsoft-warning-for-14-billion-windows-10-users-windows-11-free-upgrade/

[Lou Schneider]

Since this is a 2018 vulnerability, does it only apply to Win 10 systems that have not had regular Windows Updates since then?

[markandkim]

There are people that still use windows?

[jbh]

Microsoft claims my Win 10 system doesn't qualify to update to Win 11, and I'm not going to buy a new machine until this one croaks, so....

I suspect they'll have no choice but to provide a fix for Win 10 that doesn't involve changing to Win 11.

[k4rs]

I recently purchased a new laptop that came with Windows 11.  I used it a couple of weeks and found that I have not changed my mind about how much I dislike that operating system.  I formatted the drive and installed Linux and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC (supported until 2032).   I realize that not everyone wants to use Linux or has access to Enterprise software. 

Windows 10 CONSUMER versions reach end of life in October 2025.    There are alternatives for people who will not (or are unable) to switch from Windows 10 to 11.  I refuse to call it an upgrade. Microsoft will be offering extended support for Windows 10 ($$$) for up to 3 years.  I have not seen current pricing plans but in the past it was quite expensive.  Another option is Chrome OS Flex.  This software essentially turns your computer into a Chromebook.  Again, this will not work for everyone, but many people only use their computers for browsing / email and this may be a good choice for them.

Safe Travels...

[LindaH]

On 8/6/2024 at 2:36 PM, markandkim said:

There are people that still use windows?

Yes.

[Bill Joyce]

I have four laptops that will not run Windows 11.  One is now running Linux Mint and I might install Linux on one of the other three, but have not decided yet. I don't use Linux much.  I suspect I will just remove the hard drives and dump the laptops when Windows 10 Home reaches end of life.  That is what I finally did with the two 32-bit laptops I had been keeping alive once I was able to make everything work with 64-bit Windows. Between my wife and I we have 5 other laptops running Windows 11, so we are not hurting.   It just seems a shame that computers that are still fast enough are going obsolete. 

This is nothing new for me, I have had Apple II computers, Commodore computers, Radio Shack computers, Amiga computers and many DOS and Windows computers over the years.  I even had a 68000 based Mac for a while for a software development contract.  

We each have daily usage large laptops with smaller ones we take on car or airplane trips.  The last Windows 11 laptop runs VMSpc (https://silverleafelectronics.com/?page_id=2434) to monitor our diesel engine while traveling.  

[Chalkie]

2 hours ago, LindaH said:

Yes.

Not only yes, but about 72%, followed by MacOS with Linux bringing up the rear with about 6%.

[GlennWest]

I have not had a windows machine for some time now. Don't miss them either

[Kirk W]

On 8/6/2024 at 4:36 PM, markandkim said:

There are people that still use windows?

There are far more computers that use the Windows OS that there are running Apple OS.

[markandkim]

People still use computers too? How many phones use windows?

Edited August 17 by markandkim

[LindaH]

23 hours ago, markandkim said:

People still use computers too? 

Yes. I use my computer every day. There are things I can't do or don't want to do on my phone with the small screen compared to my 17" laptop.

[DanZemke]

2 hours ago, LindaH said:

Yes. I use my computer every day. There are things I can't do or don't want to do on my with the small screen compared to my 17" laptop.

Me too.  And I frequently use many applications that won't run on any phone.  I'm a firm believer in using the right tool for the job.

“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” - Abraham Kaplan

Edited August 18 by DanZemke
clarity

[GlennWest]

I use a Chromebook. No small screen.

[2gypsies]

I don't use my phone for typing anything other than texts and calls, naturally.

[Ray,IN]

I installed Ubuntu, dual-boot, on my desktop and learning how to use it, but can't learn how to transfer my files and pictures from W10 to Ubuntu.

Edited August 20 by Ray,IN

[RV_]

 

The Windows 10 clock is ticking: 5 ways to save your old PC in 2025 (most are free)

As many as 240 million Windows 10 PCs can't be upgraded to Windows 11. Instead of trashing your device when Windows 10 support runs out, here are five viable alternatives to save you money and trouble.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-windows-10-clock-is-ticking-5-ways-to-save-your-old-pc-in-2025-most-are-free/?ftag=TREc64629f&medium=email&source=iterable&utm_campaign_id=10071117&utm_email=3b2e0f94e4947c973f63c5cf2d34603c24fe97fe01cb10979119da7270e034b9&utm_email_id=d8ce984b17928739485a5c0a0d70e9420396e8445b4cfa95d0992e8f4bda7afc&utm_newsletter_id=92316&utm_source=pocket_shared

Edited September 4 by RV_

[2gypsies]

I went to Windows 11 a few months ago and it's had no issues.

[Ray,IN]

Had to delete the Linux partitions, I got a fatal error message about grub failing then computer shut down.

[RV_]

As to the question about who still uses Windows or computers, over the past year I've bought several new Windows computers without selling my old ones that are only three years old max except the Dell 24' AIO touchscreen i7/32Gb/1Tb touchscreen from 2018 that had an Intel 8000 series i7  just skated under the cutoff and I updated it to 11. And yes my Pixel 8 Pro phone can do a lot and interface with my Windows computers as well which I do use.

I do not like the new AI Windows, nor the Arm architecture nor the new Windows CoPilot+ computers. The Surface Pro 9 is not a CoPilot+ computer but does have CoPilot available in it like it has Edge but I can avoid both.

I'm running three operating systems now - Windows 11, Android 14, and the Amazon Android variant.

I just bought a new Samsung S9 FE last March running 13 that upgraded to 14 within a week. I have the New Amazon Fire 11 Max and the newest Fire 8 HD plus and their inability to get some apps because they can't use the Android App store. So I'm getting one more Android tablet, a 13 inch this time, and get rid of the Amazon Fire tablets. Then I'll be using only Android and Windows.

And I just picked up a like new Surface Pro 9 i7/16GB/256GB (upgradable SSD). So I'm reverting one of my two Surface Pro7+ LTE i5/8GB/1TB to its original 128GB SSD and putting the 1TB SSD in my new-to-me Surface Pro 9. Then selling one of our two Surface Pro7+ and the Surface Go2.

I will be selling my Dell micro 5080 i5/1TB/32GB desktop and 32" monitor and bringing my Lenovo 27" AIO quad HD touchscreen i7/16GB/256GB SSD/1TB storage SATA 2.5" SSD back up as my main system. I'll keep the 24" Dell AIO touchscreen i7/32GB/1TB SSD/ 1TB Sata 2.5" storage SSD as my backup system in my office. Lynn's Dell 27" touchscreen AIO i7/24GB/1TB SSD/1TB storage HDD. And keep the micro mini Morefine M8S N100/16GB/512GB M.2 SSD desktop with 28" FHD MLA monitor Bluetooth speaker to turn into a Linux box later.

I'll keep my 13.5" Surface Book 3 i7/16GB/512GB. My Pro 9 specs above, And my last Pro 7+.

So yes many of us still use Windows Computers. Yet still have high end phones and portables. I still don't like laptops except the Surface Book 3. But the screen detaches to become a tablet.

[RV_]

Ray I'm not up to snuff on Android, but perhaps a Linux Guru will pop in with help. Get good so you can help me set mine up. I don't know if I'll dual boot or image it and then load Linux as the boot OS.

[k4rs]

12 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

Had to delete the Linux partitions, I got a fatal error message about grub failing then computer shut down.

This was caused by a faulty update from Microsoft.  There are two ways to resolve this issue.  Either disable secure boot, or uninstall KB5041585.  More info at:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2#august-2024

Safe Travels...