UK warned over cyber risk as Windows 10 support ends in 2025

Microsoft will stop providing security and feature updates for the Windows 10 operating system on October 14, 2025, and consumer group Which? warns that millions of users in the UK may remain on the unsupported software, potentially exposing them to increased cyber risk. Which? estimates that 21 million people in the UK still use a laptop or desktop running Windows 10 and found in a September survey that roughly one in four of those users intend to keep using the operating system after support ends.

Microsoft has said devices running Windows 10 will continue to function after the cutoff but will no longer receive regular security updates or technical support. Yusuf Mehdi, a Microsoft executive, wrote that affected devices will become more vulnerable to online threats, including malware and viruses. Security specialists and government agencies have urged users and organizations to upgrade or make alternative arrangements before the deadline to reduce the likelihood of exploitation of newly discovered vulnerabilities.

Which? reported that 39 percent of UK Windows 10 users plan to upgrade their existing device to a newer version of Windows, 14 percent intend to replace their...