Cybercrime fears for millions of Windows 10 users (but not UoS students, it seems)
Written by Elizabeth Earl on 15th October 2025
Millions of Windows 10 users will lose their protection against cyber-criminals this week – are you affected?
Around five million British computer users will be at risk of cybercrime next week, when Microsoft ends its support for Windows 10 – but it seems Sunderland students may be largely unaffected.
From October 14, PCs running on Windows 10 will no longer be provided with security and feature updates or technical support. Although they will still work, they are likely to slow down and become more vulnerable to viruses.
Current Windows 10 users with eligible devices can upgrade to Windows 11 for free: however, those with older, non-compatible computers face the prospect of having to buy an entirely new PC.
A free, one-year extension of Windows 10 support is currently available to users, but the only way to continue using Windows after October 2026 is to switch to a newer, Windows 11-compatible device.
When asked about the end of Windows 10, Sunderland University students we spoke to said they were unaffected because they don’t use the Windows operating systems, instead using Mac or Chrome.
Within the UK population as a whole, however, Windows has a 72% market share of operating systems on desktop computers, as of September, according to Statcounter Global Stats.
In a blog post, Microsoft executive vice-president Yusuf Mehdi said: “As technology evolves, phasing out older operating systems and upgrading to newer versions is a natural part of the lifecycle—one that helps ensure you have the latest security features and innovations.”
Sustainability campaigners, on the other hand, believe that Microsoft’s actions will have negative consequences for consumers and the environment.
Cristina Ganapini, co-ordinator of the Right To Repair Europe coalition, said that ending Windows 10 support could “make 400million computers obsolete — not because they’re broken, but because of software.
“Companies can do this because there are no regulations to stop them.”
In 2021, the UK government brought ‘right to repair’ legislation into effect, which sought to guarantee consumers the ability to fix certain household appliances, like washing machines and TVs, with the aim of expanding the lifespan of products and avoiding planned obsolescence.
