Don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11? You don’t have to, but here’s what you should know

Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Home windows 10 is reaching its finish of life on Oct. 14, leaving thousands and thousands of PCs with out technical assist or new safety updates.
• Nonetheless, many customers will inevitably keep on Home windows 10. 
• Whatever the reasoning, I will clarify methods to maintain your Home windows 10 PC protected lengthy after assist ends.

Home windows 10 will officiall attain its finish of life on October 14, 2025, that means Microsoft will not present technical assist or safety updates to the OS. Chances are high that by the point you are studying this, that date has already handed, and also you’re questioning what to do subsequent.

Additionally: How to upgrade your ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 – for free

Nicely, you will have two choices. You can both A) chew the bullet and install Windows 11 onto your PC, or B) sign up for Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESUs) to obtain an additional 12 months of essential safety patches. However as an example you possibly can’t set up Home windows 11 in your pc. You have finished all of the troubleshooting you can, and it simply does not work. Or perhaps you do not wish to improve and like to stay with Home windows 10. That is the place I are available in.

On this information, I will stroll you thru among the greatest strategies to remain protected on Home windows 10 lengthy after its finish of assist. Nonetheless, doing so would require you to make some necessary adjustments.

Smarter habits

Earlier than diving into particular options, I wish to take the time to focus on a number of behavioral adjustments you may make to remain protected on Home windows 10. A few of these ideas could appear apparent, however a fast refresher by no means harm anyone.

• Do not set up random software program – Be aware of what you obtain and the place precisely it comes from. Follow first-party sources like apps from the Microsoft Retailer. I do know it is tempting to put in a pirated model of Adobe Premiere Professional, however the threat of contracting malware is just too nice.
• Preserve your net browser up to date – Home windows 10 may cease receiving updates, however lots of your favourite apps (like your browser) will nonetheless get common safety patches. Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 share the identical core code. I like to recommend utilizing Courageous, which ZDNET named the best secure browser for privacy. It comes with “a number of privacy-enhancing settings”, together with a robust advert blocker.
• Strengthen your account safety – Having robust, distinctive passwords goes a great distance. Be certain all of your accounts make the most of advanced logins and use a password manager to assist set up the whole lot. Additionally, enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) wherever obtainable so as to add an additional layer of safety.
• Again up your PC commonly: Home windows 10 comes with its personal backup instrument, aptly referred to as Backup and Restore, which you could find within the Management Panel. You will have an exterior drive with loads of house. If you do not have a drive, cloud storage is a good different. ZDNET recommends iDrive for its affordability and adaptability.

First line of protection: a wiser router

The very first thing you are able to do is improve your outdated router. Extra strong fashions present superior security measures that assist defend not simply your PC but in addition your total residence community from threats. Admittedly, shopping for a brand new router is without doubt one of the costly choices. Microsoft’s ESUs are solely $30 for a 12 months; nonetheless, the extent of safety and utility that they supply should not be missed. 

Additionally: I compared a traditional Wi-Fi router with a mesh setup – here’s which one I recommend

For particular units, I like to recommend shopping for a Wi-Fi 6 router that helps the WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Entry 3) encryption normal. It gives robust information encryption and higher safety towards sure cyberattacks that the earlier technology was susceptible to. You can go for a Wi-Fi 7 router, however Home windows 10 does not assist Wi-Fi 7, so you may be paying for a know-how you can’t use to its full impact.

ZDNET’s Charlie Osborne recommends the ASUS RT-AX1800, an reasonably priced Wi-Fi 6 router that comes with AiProtection Classic. It is a suite of safety software program that features assist for WPA3, the power to dam contaminated units, and a firewall.

Second line of protection: antivirus software program

The largest problem with the top of Home windows 10 lies in unpatched vulnerabilities. Microsoft used to patch up these holes, however as soon as they cease coming, it is primarily open season. The best and most evident solution to defend your self is through the use of a trusted antivirus program. Whereas these apps cannot repair the aforementioned vulnerabilities, it will probably nonetheless cease malware and phishing makes an attempt lifeless of their tracks.

Additionally: I tested the best antivirus software for Windows: Here’s what I’d use to protect my PC

We’ve a full listing of the best antivirus apps for Home windows PCs. As talked about earlier, each Home windows 10 and Home windows 11 share the identical core code, so what works on the newer OS will work on the outdated, too. Personally, I like to recommend Malwarebytes for its pace, reliability, and ease of use. 

Third-party assist

Consider it or not, however there are third-party firms that develop safety patches for Home windows 10 and can proceed to take action after the top of  life. One of many extra well-known builders is known as 0patch, a European firm that releases focused “micropatches” for Home windows 10.

0patch presents a free plan that rolls out simply 0-day fixes. There’s a Professional plan that extends helps to post-EOS patches for Home windows 10, Home windows 7, Home windows Workplace 2019 , and extra. Costs are listed at 25 Euros a 12 months (about $30 USD). What’s nice about 0patch is that they’ll present updates for an additional 5 years — till October 2030.

Additionally: How to clear your Windows 11 PC cache (and what happens if you don’t)

There’s a catch to all this. As a result of Home windows 10 is a big, closed-source OS, it is rather troublesome for even professionals to find and repair each single vulnerability. That is why 0Patch solely focuses on addressing necessary flaws — therefore the identify “micropatches”. These are small. That stated, builders like 0Patch might be your greatest guess to guard your pc as soon as Microsoft’s ESUs finish on October 2026.