Microsoft will officially end free security updates and technical support for Windows 10 from 14 October 2025, a move that could leave hundreds of thousands of New Zealand computers more exposed to cyber threats.
Consumer NZ estimates that about 30 per cent of New Zealand PCs still run the outgoing operating system. Product test writer Nick Gelling warned that once updates stop, “it’ll simply stop receiving the free security updates that keep you safe from online attacks. As time goes on, you’re opening yourself up to more and more risks.”
Gelling said it was “nearly impossible to predict” how long older systems would remain secure. “It might stay under control for a few months or even a year. But equally, it could be that malicious actors are waiting for October 15 to unleash their next spying tool on the largest possible number of unsecured users.”
Microsoft is urging users to upgrade to Windows 11, but many older computers fail to meet its hardware requirements. Alternatives include enrolling in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme or switching to open-source systems.
Gelling advised that “the first and best option for users unable to upgrade to Windows 11 is to enrol in the ESU programme,” which extends protection until October 2026.
However, he cautioned that “because it isn’t automatic, many of the more vulnerable computer users will slip through the crack.”
Consumer NZ has urged Microsoft to extend support, warning that the cut-off could cause a “surge in e-waste” as users discard working devices. “Hundreds of thousands of New Zealand consumers… may feel they have little option but to throw out computers that still work,” Gelling said.
Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi defended the decision, calling it a “natural part of the life cycle” of software. He added that while Windows 10 machines would still operate, “they will no longer receive regular security updates, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats.”