**Windows 10 Security Alert: Do This Now to Reduce Your Risk of Being Hacked**

Despite the end of support for Windows 10 last year, many users are still running the operating system on their PCs. With Microsoft cutting off Secure Boot certificates in June, it's essential to know how long you can safely run Windows 10 and what steps to take to reduce your risk of being hacked.

Windows 10 Didn't Break Overnight—But Its Safety Net Did

You may have noticed that Windows 10 computers didn't simply shut down on October 14, 2025. There's no immediately visible evidence that the operating system isn't supported. So, what difference does the end of support make? If you have a Windows 10 issue and attempt to get tech support from Microsoft, you'll quickly discover that support is no longer available. Similarly, if you try to run Windows Update, you'll see a warning, "Your device is no longer receiving security updates." Simply put, there will be no further updates for Windows 10, including security updates, which is the most significant impact of the end of support.

No more patches, no more security updates. You're on your own.

Is Staying on Windows 10 Risky?

For many users, Windows Update is an annoyance, often occurring at an inconvenient time. Some of those updates just provide enhanced operating system functions, but others serve to patch security holes. As noted, Microsoft won't issue any further updates for Windows 10. If researchers on the Dark Side discover a security vulnerability, it won’t get patched unless it's so severe that Microsoft has to take action.

There’s a continuous tug of war between malware coders and antivirus developers. For each new attack vector, a defense quickly arises. But you can picture what happens when one side in a tug of war stops pulling hard and trying to win. They may hold out by sheer inertia for a while, but sooner or later, the other team will claim the prize.

As time passes, you may also discover that new software only supports Windows 11. Even hardware devices typically require a driver to communicate with your PC. You might find you can’t use your new 3D printer because it doesn’t include drivers for Windows 10. High-end tools, such as Visual Studio and the latest Microsoft Teams, already require Windows 11.

Extended Security Updates: Windows 10's Last Lifeline

If you look closely at the Windows Update screenshot a few paragraphs above, you’ll notice an apparent contradiction. Despite the warning about no more security updates, the app offers an update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus, as well as a security update for Windows 10.

Indeed, Microsoft has announced it will continue to update Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10 through October 2028. Below the suggested updates, the app suggests that you enroll in Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10. That’s right. Microsoft started warning us years ago about the eventual demise of Windows 10, but for consumers, it's still willing to stretch support for one more year, until October 13, 2026.

To access the ESU, you must meet some simple requirements. Only consumer-side Windows editions qualify, and your Windows 10 must be fully up to date. The Windows account you use to sign up must have Administrator privileges. Additionally, you must have Windows Backup enabled to sync the essentials of your Windows account to online backup.

If you don’t already use Windows Backup and don’t want to start, there are a couple of other ways to qualify for ESU. Have you been accumulating Microsoft Rewards points and wondering what the heck to do with them? For 1,000 rewards points, you can buy into ESU without the Windows Backup requirement.

And then there’s the plain, simple cash option. A one-time $30 fee gets you access to the ESU. It’s worth noting that Microsoft provides a separate ESU for businesses and organizations. Businesses pay $61 per PC, more than twice the cost for consumers. Businesses can also extend ESU protection for a second and third year, though the price doubles each year.

Sorry, consumers only get that first year of extended security.

**How to Protect a Windows 10 PC After Microsoft Walks Away**

According to StatCounter, the number of Windows 11 installations surpassed that of Windows 10 in June 2025. The latest figures show that Windows 11 is at 53.7% and Windows 10 is at 42.7%. That’s a lot of PCs still running Windows 10.

If the PC Health Check utility reports that your PC isn’t capable of running Windows 11, or if you just plain don't want to upgrade, you can continue with Windows 10. Signing up for the extended updates doesn’t truly reanimate Windows 10—you receive security updates only. Per Microsoft’s documentation, signing up “does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements, or product enhancements. It also does not come with technical support.”

Additionally, you’re not addressing the security issues. You’re just kicking them down the road until next year.

If you plan to continue using your Windows 10 PC, be extra vigilant. Make sure that you have third-party security actively protecting your PC to compensate for the built-in security that Microsoft removed. The most important thing you can do is install a powerful antivirus utility and keep it up to date.

Check in periodically to ensure the antivirus is working. Once a hacking crew devises a malicious app that exploits a Windows security vulnerability, they still must somehow install that app on your PC and execute its harmful code. Chances are good the antivirus will recognize and quarantine the malicious app before it even executes.

If the malware does manage to launch, behavior-based detection should catch and quash the exploit attempt. You can enhance your protection by upgrading from an antivirus to a full security suite. Many suites include a firewall, and many firewalls are built with specific protection against exploits that attack system vulnerabilities.

Exploits are the big problem when security patches aren't available, so this feature can seriously enhance your security.

Using a VPN can also help, as it creates a barrier (the VPN server) between you and any malicious websites.

Ultimately, with Microsoft withdrawing its security support for Windows 10, it's up to you to take a more proactive approach, but it's definitely something you can accomplish.