Ten Days until the End of Windows 10. Sort of. Why Wait, Install Linux Today!

Tuesday 14 October is just ten days away. This means it's the end of free security updates for Windows 10 users. Well, sort of.

Microsoft has changed its tune several times this year and they are now offering "free" extended support for Windows 10 for one year until 14 October 2026. These security updates are marketed as being free of charge, but there's a hitch (because of course there is): you need to link your Windows 10 software to an online Microsoft account, although this option only applies in the European Economic Area. Living elsewhere? Then you pay with so-called Microsoft Reward Points or by uploading your data to Microsoft's cloud. Or fork over $30 to Microsoft.

None of those options are really free, are they?

The good news is that the End Of 10 campaign does not need to end either, not yet! For those Windows 10 users who haven't already, there's time to do the last Windows update in your life — upgrade to Linux!

If you make the change now you won't need to link your computer to a Microsoft account, pay Reward Points, upload your private data to corporate servers, or waste your hard-earned money on unnecessary fees.

Find out what free as in freedom is really like with Free & Open Source Software. No licensing costs for software updates or new features. No online account required to use your device. No genAI bundled with your operating system. Your operating system is more private, by default. You decide when to update and restart your computer. You get software updates for as long as you need, or until your hardware breaks. And much more! This is what software freedom looks like.

As a spokesperson from Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) said: "This [extension] gives users a little more time to endeavor to use an operating system that is supplied with security updates in the long term".

Well said, we couldn't agree more!

At the End Of 10 campaign website, you will find places and events near you where people will help you get started using a modern, feature-rich, and independent operating system which is supplied with security updates in the long term: Linux.

Find someone to help you install Linux today: https://endof10.org/