What does the end of free support for Windows 10 mean for its users?
From Tuesday Microsoft will no longer offer free support as standard for Windows 10, an operating system that is used by millions of computer and laptop owners around the world.Figures for September suggest four in 10 of those using Microsoft Windows worldwide were still using Windows 10, despite the introduction of its successor, Windows 11, in 2021.After 14 October 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide standard free software updates, security fixes or technical assistance to Windows 10 PCs.This means computers running the software will still work but it will steadily become more vulnerable to viruses and malware as bugs and security holes are discovered.Microsoft says the more up-to-date system, Windows 11, “meets the current demands for heightened security by default”.
If Windows users do nothing, they could become particularly vulnerable to hackers who are attracted to wide-scale systemic weaknesses.The consumer group Which? warned that about 5 million British computer users plan to continue using devices running the software.Wherever in the world you are, by continuing to use Windows 10 you will put yourself at risk of cyber-attacks, data theft and scams.Criminals “are going to target people, they are going to exploit weaknesses and they are going to want to steal your data,” says Lisa Barber, the editor of Which? Tech magazine.The most straightforward move is to update to Windows 11 for free.
If your PC is less than four years old it will probably be able to run Windows 11.To find out, check your computer specifications.The minimum specifications for Windows 11 are 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, but computers also need a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0), which stores credentials in a secure chip, similar to all modern smartphones.
Microsoft has a free tool to check whether a computer running Windows 10 will support Windows 11 and Which? has an online tool to check compatibility based on the processor in your computer.Doing nothing could leave you vulnerable to malware and other security breaches.One option is to sign up for Microsoft’s one-year extended security update, which will ensure protection until 13 October 2026.That will give you another year to plan for the end of support and make alternative arrangements.Signing up is free if you log into Windows 10 with a Microsoft account to sync your settings, otherwise you will need to pay $30, plus tax, or redeem 1,000 reward points.
Other computer operating systems can provide safe and secure use for PCs that cannot upgrade to Windows 11.One solution is to install Linux, which is a family of free operating systems that come in various flavours or “distributions”.Make sure you back up all your files to an external drive or similar safe storage, as replacing Windows is likely to wipe them or make them hard to access.One of the most popular and user-friendly versions of Linux is Canonical’s Ubuntu, which is free, open source and supported with security updates.You will need a USB flash drive to install it in place of Windows, but Canonical has a step-by-step guide you can follow.
Bear in mind that while plenty of software supports Linux, not all Windows apps will have Linux versions,Alternatively, if most of what you need a computer for can be performed using a browser, Google offers a version of its lightweight ChromeOS that can be installed on a number of PCs for free,Check that your model is supported and then follow Google’s ChromeOS Flex installation guide,You will need a USB flash drive,If your computer cannot install alternative software or you need Windows, then another alternative is simply to buy a new PC with Windows 11 and support.
Many retailers operate trade-in schemes that take back your old computer for recycling and offer a small discount on new models.Alternatively, refurbished Windows 11 machines are widely available from various retailers, such as Currys, marketplaces such as Back Market and manufacturers, such as Dell for lower cost.
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Australia targets offshore wagering threat with major sporting events on horizon
The threat of organised crime and the emergence of new offshore wagering havens in tiny jurisdictions such as Vanuatu will be a focus of Australia’s largest gathering of sports integrity professionals this week, as the nation prepares to host at least one major international sporting event each year in the run-up to the 2032 Brisbane Games.Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) will bring together the codes, law enforcement agencies and wagering companies with the goal of establishing a major events taskforce on Wednesday, after a separate Victoria police summit on Tuesday featuring 200-plus integrity experts.Although there has been cooperation for previous events such as the 2015 men’s Asian Cup and 2023 Women’s World Cup, the new arrangements reflect SIA’s new coordination role under sports integrity treaty the Macolin Convention, amid heightened awareness of the cross-border character of illegal wagering.James Moller, head of strategy and international policy at SIA, said it is “well understood” what to do when an alert arrives from local wagering partners around suspicious betting within domestic sport, but interstate and international collaboration can be less straightforward.“You could have athletes arriving in Western Australia, in New South Wales, in Queensland, you could have gambling happening in a different state or territory, and the sports betting environment is truly global,” Moller said
Smith-Schuster left with bloody nose after Lions-Chiefs ends in ‘childish’ brawl
The Detroit Lions’ matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs was expected to be feisty, but few thought it would end in a literal fight on Sunday night.The Chiefs had started the season poorly, by their high standards, and were coming off a painful loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. But they dominated the Lions, who have suffered a string of injuries to their defense, on both sides of the ball to secure a 30-17 victory and move to 3-3 for the season.But the evening ended with players from both teams flooding the field after a fight started for the most petty of reasons. Lions safety Brian Branch refused to return a handshake from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the game ended
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