End of Windows 10: security issues, environmental impact and alternative solutions

October 14, 2025 marks a major turning point in the history of computing: Microsoft officially ends support for Windows 10.

Launched in July 2015, this operating system has equipped hundreds of millions of computers worldwide for a decade.

Today, this transition raises crucial questions about IT security and environmental impact.

📌 To remember

The main points of this article:

• End of support: October 14, 2025 (no more free security updates)
• 400 million PCs affected worldwide (40% of the market)
• Free ESU for Europe: 1 year of updates for EEA residents until October 13, 2026
• Switzerland is not covered by free access (outside the EEA): $30 for individuals
• 240 million PCs at risk of becoming e-waste
• Strict requirements for Windows 11: TPM 2.0 chip mandatory
• Viable alternatives: Linux (free), Chrome OS Flex, or virtualization
• Major security risk: unpatched vulnerabilities after October 2025

Mass adoption complicates the transition

Windows 10 still powers around 40% of the world’s computers, or nearly 400 million machines according to Statcounter statistics for September 2025. This massive adoption makes the transition particularly tricky, especially as not all these devices are compatible with Windows 11.

Indeed, Microsoft is imposing strict technical requirements for its new operating system, including the presence of a TPM 2.0 chip and other hardware prerequisites.

As a result, millions of perfectly functional computers are now incompatible with Windows 11.

Safety risks after the end of support

From October 15, 2025, computers running Windows 10 will no longer receive :

• Security updates
• Patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities
• Microsoft technical support

According toANSSI (Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information), any new vulnerability identified after this date will not be corrected, constituting a major security risk. The ANSSI barometer reveals that 34% of malware attacks target PCs over 5 years old equipped with obsolete systems, compared with only 6% for devices less than a year old.

A free reprieve for Europeans

Important update (October 2025 ):

Faced with pressure from European consumer associations and under the impetus of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Microsoft has finally granted a free one-year extension for users in the European Economic Area (EEA).

The free ESU program in Europe

Residents of the EEA (including France, Belgium and Luxembourg, but not Switzerland) can now benefit from the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program free of charge until October 13, 2026, simply by :

• Logging in with a Microsoft account
• Using Windows 10 version 22H2
• Remaining connected to the account at least once every 60 days

Important notice: Registration for the ESU program has been open since October 14, 2025. Users can still register after this deadline.

For the rest of the world

Outside the EEA, individuals have three options for obtaining ESU:

1. Enable Windows backup on OneDrive (free)
2. Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points (free)
3. Pay $30 for one year of updates

For companies

Organizations can subscribe to the ESU program at progressive rates:

• First year (2025-2026): $61 per unit
• Second year (2026-2027): $122 per unit
• Third year (2027-2028): $244 per unit

An environmental disaster waiting to happen

Analysis firm Canalys estimates that up to 240 million computers could become e-waste due to incompatibility with Windows 11.

If all these laptops were stacked together, they would form a 600 km stack, taller than the Earth-Moon distance.

Ecological issues

This software obsolescence forces the replacement of perfectly functional hardware, resulting in :

• Massive production of electronic waste (WEEE)
• A considerable waste of non-renewable resources
• Additional CO2 emissions linked to the manufacture of new appliances
• Environmental pollution from toxic components

In Quebec, Uni-Recycle has received more than 21,700 Windows 10-incompatible computers since July 2025, 64% of which have been reused by installing other operating systems such as Chrome OS.

A contradiction with sustainability objectives

Several environmental associations, including Halte à l’Obsolescence Programmée (HOP), Équiterre and Option consommateurs, are denouncing this situation as a blatant case of programmed obsolescence that contradicts Microsoft’s commitments to sustainable development. The American company has pledged to become “carbon neutral, water positive and zero waste by 2030”.

Alternative solutions

Faced with this situation, users have several options:

1. Migrating to Windows 11

If your computer meets the technical requirements, upgrading to Windows 11 remains free of charge. Use Microsoft’s “PC Health Check” tool to check your machine’s compatibility.

Advantages:

• Support and updates until 2031
• Modern interface and new safety features

Disadvantages:

• Recent hardware required (TPM 2.0 chip, etc.)
• Some software or peripherals may no longer be compatible.

2. Register for the ESU program

This temporary solution saves time in preparing for the transition, while maintaining an acceptable level of security for a further year.

3. Switch to Linux

For computers incompatible with Windows 11, Linux represents an excellent, free and sustainable alternative. Several distributions are specially designed to ease the transition:

• Linux Mint: a familiar interface for Windows users
• Ubuntu: a popular, well-documented distribution
• Zorin OS: designed to look like Windows

Advantages:

• Free and open source
• Lightweight systems for older PCs
• Long-term support
• Less vulnerable to viruses

4. Chrome OS Flex

Google is offering Chrome OS Flex, a slimmed-down version of its operating system, ideal for breathing new life into older computers.

5. Using a virtual machine

For experienced users, installing Windows 10 in a virtual machine (VirtualBox, VMware) lets you continue to use certain Windows software while limiting security risks.

Infologo recommendations

As IT professionals in Switzerland, we recommend :

1. Don’t panic: your computer will continue to function after October 14, 2025.
2. Assess compatibility: check whether your machine is compatible with Windows 11.
3. Anticipate: if a migration is necessary, plan it carefully.
4. Backup: create a full backup of your data before migration.
5. Consider Linux: for incompatible machines, Linux is a viable and sustainable alternative.
6. For Swiss companies: Evaluate the cost of the ESU program in the face of a gradual renewal of IT equipment.

Conclusion

The end of Windows 10 illustrates the tensions between technological innovation, IT security and environmental responsibility. While Microsoft justifies this decision by security and modernization imperatives, it raises legitimate questions about software obsolescence and its ecological impact.

Getting a year’s worth of free updates in Europe is certainly a victory for consumers, but it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem: millions of perfectly functional computers are at risk of becoming electronic waste.

Faced with this situation, users and businesses need to weigh up their options: migration to Windows 11, adoption of alternatives such as Linux, or investment in the ESU program. Whichever solution is chosen, it is essential to favor a responsible approach that reconciles security, sustainability and economic efficiency.

Sources: Microsoft, CERT-FR (ANSSI), Statcounter, Canalys, environmental associations (HOP, Équiterre, Option consommateurs)