The past few weeks have been challenging for Microsoft. Following the backlash from recent recalls, the cybersecurity incident involving CrowdStrike, and mixed momentum with its Copilot AI tool, a major security concern looms for the vast majority of Windows users. The focus is on Windows 10 and the urgent need for its users to upgrade to Windows 11.
In June, Microsoft issued a stark warning to users, stating, “End of support for Windows 10 arrives on October 14, 2025; this means your desktop won’t receive technical support or security updates after that date.” This full-screen alert is part of Microsoft’s campaign to encourage the hundreds of millions of Windows 10 holdouts to upgrade.
While there has been some progress, it is not nearly enough. According to Neowin, in July 2024, Windows 11 finally crossed the 30% market share mark since its launch in October 2021, showing over 7% year-over-year growth as per Statcounter’s data. However, this still means that more than twice as many Microsoft Windows users are not using Windows 11 as those who are, even three years post-launch.
Despite Windows 11’s known pros and cons, the growth rate has been slow. The decline in Windows 10’s usage over the past year is gradual, while Windows 11’s adoption is slowly climbing. This trend is worrisome, considering the impending end-of-life for Windows 10 in October 2025.
There will likely be a surge in Windows 11 upgrades as the deadline approaches, and some users may opt for extended paid support when available. However, many will risk continuing without support. The potential for hackers to exploit unsupported Windows 10 systems is high, and scammers will likely target these users with phishing attempts and other fraudulent schemes.
As the October 2025 deadline nears, the situation could become a haven for hackers, and the frequency of scams targeting Windows 10 users is expected to increase significantly.
