Microsoft's $30 Windows 10 Security Updates Cover 10 Devices 68
Microsoft's $30 Extended Security Updates license for Windows 10 will cover up to 10 devices under a single Microsoft Account, the company confirmed in updated support documentation. The ESU program, which provides security updates through October 13, 2026, requires a Microsoft Account for all three enrollment options: the $30 one-time purchase, redemption of 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, or free enrollment for users who sync their PC settings to OneDrive. Windows 10's support ends October 14, 2025.
Re: "users who sync their PC settings to OneDrive" (Score:3)
Syncing a VM then using an offline updater is an easy fix for those who care but I too am not among them. Making piracy easy was effective market chumming that served its purpose and still does.
Lol. I've already switched to Linux. (Score:2, Informative)
Wasn't hard.
Re: (Score:2)
It's hard not to think the surge in Linux desktop users wasn't a big factor in this.
Weird times.
Re:Lol. I've already switched to Linux. (Score:4, Interesting)
Wasn't hard.
Am in the process of switching to Mint 22 (Cinnamon) full-time. Not hard, but tedious. Already duplicated my Firefox and Thunderbird configurations, and converted all my complex spreadsheets from Excel (and budget in Lotus 123 - which still works fine under Win10 btw) to LibreOffice Calc and figured out similar alternatives to AxCrypt (ccrypt and/or 7zip). Still hung up on a good alternative to Publisher; LibreOffice may work okay for new files, but not so much with existing files, maybe Scribus or stop caring? Copying over files with some probable re-organization will be tedious. So far, I've just been too lazy to complete the tasks.
Re:Lol. I've already switched to Linux. (Score:4, Interesting)
Still hung up on a good alternative to Publisher
If it makes you feel any better, whether you're on Windows or Linux, you need to be looking for an alternative to Publisher... it's been deprecated and has an EOL about a year out. You can, of course, continue to run it, but I can't imagine running any MS software that doesn't get security updates anymore, especially one that's an Office component.
Re: (Score:3)
you need to be looking for an alternative to Publisher... it's been deprecated and has an EOL about a year out.
Good to know, thanks.
I can't imagine running any MS software that doesn't get security updates anymore, especially one that's an Office component
I'm using Office 2010, so am used to no Office updates for a while now. :-) Guess I could just keep my Windows 10 system offline (or more heavily fire-walled) going forward -- I imagine some people will do that for some things after October ...
Re: (Score:2)
Fortunately Office 2010 runs pretty well under Wine in Linux (I recommend installing Bottles from your distro's repository). Here's some information on doing this specifically:
https://github.com/tazihad/mso... [github.com]
There's nothing wrong with continuing to use MS Office now that you've moved to Linux. But I am interested to know how you make out bringing your spreadsheets into LibreOffice. Some of our small business sheets are quite complicated and they almost work properly in LibreOffice Calc. I'm not the pr
Re: (Score:2)
But I am interested to know how you make out bringing your spreadsheets into LibreOffice. Some of our small business sheets are quite complicated and they almost work properly in LibreOffice Calc.
I tried importing them and was dubious. The raw number obviously imported okay, but there are function differences and the charts/graphs didn't convert at all. There weren't that many files, so I hunkered down and redid all them from scratch. My budget had several sheets, but most followed a similar pattern so knowledge used doing one sheet carried over to the others. In the end, I think redoing them was the better option as I learned more about features specific to LO Calc and was able to re-implement
Re: (Score:2)
Our spreadsheets go back to lotus 1-2-3 also. Used to heavily use lotus macros. These days we don't use macros much so no VBS to deal with.
Re: (Score:2)
Our spreadsheets go back to lotus 1-2-3 also.
If it ain't broke ... :-)
Re: (Score:2)
When I tried opening my spreadsheets in Calc, anything that had dates in them was broken. Libre Office forces dates to follow the Libre Office locale setting, which in America is absolute garbage.
I can override any components of the default locale in Windows, and Excel uses the specifics provided by the operating system. That means that all of my spreadsheets that use sane dates (ISO 8601) work in Excel, and fail in Calc.
This has been a known problem for more than a decade, if the bug reports and forum po
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
MS account is a deal breaker (Score:2, Insightful)
I set up friends and relatives on local accounts. One of them was going to pay the $30 instead of upgrade (6th gen i5). He mostly just uses Libreoffice, a scanner, and email. I should offer to support him on Linux for $25.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm curious whether this deal is really to correlate up to 10 PCs to a family.
What's an MS account anyway?
Translation (Score:5, Insightful)
If you give us a copy of all your data so we can feed it to our AI, we'll pay Chinese hackers to keep updating Windows 10, so you can keep subscribing to defense software, for only $30!
Re: Translation (Score:3)
Yep. Transparently says they are profiting from people using OneDrive, even for free. There's many ways they could be doing that, but I bet they all involve using the shared data in ways nobody would want.
Re: (Score:2)
Syncing PC settings != giving Microsoft all your data. If anything it only shows what software you have installed and what anime girl is on your wallpaper.
a subcutaneous bolus of lede toxin (Score:2)
You think $30 is usurious? (Score:2, Insightful)
You might want to look at RHEL pricing. Be sure to sit down first. That "free" Linux OS,,, costs close to a grand a year.
Re: (Score:2)
Redhat always had Microsoft envy then predictably ended its life as a division of IBM. Say no more. Friends don't let friends use Redhat.
Re: You think $30 is usurious? (Score:2)
You could always tell a poseur because they used RHEL alpha, AKA Fedora.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You could always tell a poseur because they used RHEL alpha, AKA Fedora.
You mean Ubuntu. Fedora is actually a really solid distro.
No, I meant what I said, poseur.
Nobody who gives a fuck about Linux would run Redhate for years on years now.
Re: (Score:2)
My experience with Fedora, using it for a couple of years, was that it breaks frequently and significantly when updated. Applying updates was always an adventure...what will break this time? The fixes would usually come within a few weeks.
Major updates were a no-go. My system wouldn't even start after one, and it was beyond my technical ability to repair. It became my habit to just wipe the system and reinstall for major updates (which wasn't too bad since I keep all my data on a devoted drive separate
Re: (Score:2)
I've upgraded Fedora continuously for nearly 10 years, often skipping two versions at a time. And with an unsupported ZFS root filesystem. Very little breakage, even between major version updates. I've been continually surprised by that.
Currently on Fedora 40 and will upgrade this fall to 42 now that it's been out for a few months and ZFS on Linux support is stable. I've occasionally had issues with kernel updates when the kernel and zfs are updated together, but like I said, that's not a supported confi
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, in case you are wondering, you are the only one. Apparently you only run solitaire on your Linux box. Yeah, sure, sputter about that as much as you like.
Re: (Score:2)
Not the only one. My laptop and all my virtual machines (other than appliances) run Fedora, and the 6-month upgrade does not break anything.
Normal updates are automatically applied every morning.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah solitaire on zfs root. That's it alright.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
There is no such thing as a solid RPM distribution. Suse almost... but not quite.
Re: (Score:1)
While that is true, Microsoft had promised that Windows 10 would the the last version they ever release.
And there is also the fact that Windows 11 was only released 4 years ago, and it is a bit shit. As they said, every second Windows version is one you want to skip.
So there are still lots of devices out there that run Windows 10, and people have no intention of upgrading until Microsoft does better than Windows 11.
Re: (Score:2)
Microsoft makes promises for marketing reasons only. Promises don't have any bearing on their actual plans or actions.
A life free of this abuse is reserved for those wealthy enough to afford Apple, or smart enough to understand Linux.
Looks generous, still useless and more a scam than (Score:3)
Windows 11 is an abomination. Yes you can take your time to configure it. But apart other considerations. Like MS artificially blocking updates (there is really no reason for the CPU requirement), which makes this look like a generous offer. The reality is that W11 is the summon of their tick-tock scheme. It is worse than vista. It is worse than ME. It is add loaded stuff that i dont even want for free.
Under the hood, MS has great tech. But the bad user experience is entirely themselves to blame.
Re: (Score:2)
This. Windows 11 is the version you want to skip. At least people will try.
Re: Looks generous, still useless and more a scam (Score:2)
Indeed. I will likely pay up though. Which is itself a weird marketing scheme; pay not to use. But right now Ubuntu desktop experience is superior to MS. They are just counting on all enterprise stuff, some vendor lockin, some silly gov certification stuff so that supply chain has no choice but to eat it, and milking it in a shortsighted fashion. $30 cheap enough not to care. Marketing dept gets their bonus.
Re: (Score:3)
there is really no reason for the CPU requirement
Other than making sure that core security features in Windows such as passkeys and disk encryption work there's no requirements. Minor stuff really.
The reality is that W11 is the summon of their tick-tock scheme. It is worse than vista. It is worse than ME.
I'm not sure if you haven't used W11 or Vista or ME, but Windows 11 is FUCKING ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE BETTER than those abject pieces of shit. Windows 11 has plenty to grumble about but it actually runs stably and functions as a system, which objectively Vista and ME did not.
You even said it yourself under the hood MS has great tech. Windows ME and Vista were rotte
Re: Looks generous, still useless and more a scam (Score:3)
Only certain people care for strong cryptography. John Doe does not nor is he willing to throw his pc out of the window. It could have been optional.
As for the good tech. Yes, kernel and drivers are rock solid since 7.
Now to the real point, as someone who has to deal with W11 on an almost daily basis. A fresh install only shouts 'dont use me' 'want to subscribe to office' 'use onedrive' 'you want edge to tell us everything you do'. And only 10 minutes later you are actually able to do something. In between
Re: (Score:2)
Only certain people care for strong cryptography.
Everyone cares for strong cryptography when their systems are compromised. John Doe doesn't know any better. John Doe doesn't run backups or encryption. John Doe had no problem putting no password on their Windows login back when it wasn't enforced. John Doe has their credit card compromised, and gets scammed out of their banking passwords and ONLY THEN cares about security, just like John Doe only cares about backups when they suffer data loss.
That's why companies putting in place security by default is im
Linux covers more devices. (Score:1)
Each Linux security update will cover, um, 50 billion devices or more! And you won't need as many updates, a small fraction actually, because Linux doesn't have that many holes to begin with. And Linux security updates will work properly and not mess up your box. Usually. And you don't have to reboot. Usually. Unless it's a critical kernel flaw, which is rare, and even then there are ways to avoid reboot if that is important to you.
If you give a toss about security then you simply need to bin Microsoft.
Re: (Score:3)
So a few counter discussion points to that -
What 50 billion devices are you referring to? If you're counting android in there you shouldn't, you can't upgrade the kernel yourself and you're stuck with the vendor's decisions to update or not
What are you calling linux? The kernel only?
If the whole system, most distros require you to reboot with updates to core services/software, especially to the desktop environment.
Microsoft are idiots with this whole win10 to win11 debacle (what happened to win10 is the la
Re: (Score:1)
Spoken like a serious goof who gets hard from reading his own internet droppings. Got the slightest clue how many embedded devices there are now, running Linux? The rest of your dumb post isn't even worth commenting on. That part wasn't either, I was just being generous.
Re: (Score:3)
And you won't need as many updates, a small fraction actually, because Linux doesn't have that many holes to begin with. And Linux security updates will work properly and not mess up your box. Usually. And you don't have to reboot. Usually. Unless it's a critical kernel flaw, which is rare, and even then there are ways to avoid reboot if that is important to you.
If you give a toss about security then you simply need to bin Microsoft.
Yeah you're quite new to Linux aren't you? There's been several very critical security flaws with major packages used in almost all Linux distros that have turned out to have been around for well over a half a decade, a few even over a decade.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah you're quite new to Linux aren't you?
Hahaha plonk.
Yikes! (Score:2)
All three options ... nope, nope, and NOPE.
This will have limited effect, security-wise (Score:2, Interesting)
A very large segment of Windows users have NEVER payed for an OS update or upgrade, and they aren't about to start doing so now. Mark my words, they'll end up walking back on the planned (and entirely fake) obsolescence of Windows 10. All of these Windows machines that are no longer being updated will be targeted in a huge malware campaign at some point, and it will be a big deal. This is the type of thing that gets politicians talking and bringing up the "M" word again, and MS wants to avoid this at all
Re: (Score:1)
Mark my words, they'll end up walking back on the planned (and entirely fake) obsolescence of Windows 10.
I don't share our optimism.
All of these Windows machines that are no longer being updated will be targeted in a huge malware campaign at some point, and it will be a big deal.
I share your pessimism.
PR/Legal-cover (Score:1)
My guess is that Microsoft's lawyers and PR department are pressuring the C-Suite to get as many Windows 10 users to do anything OTHER than run Windows 10 without updates, whether that's upgrade to 11, pay for extended support (in cash and in privacy), or bail on Windows entirely (macOS, Linux, etc.).
The bad PR that will come when gazillions of exposed Windows 10 machines are not getting patched will be bad for Microsoft, and it may lead to lawsuits or investigations by regulatory bodies.
By making these kin
Re: (Score:2)
The bad PR that will come when gazillions of exposed Windows 10 machines are not getting patched will be bad for Microsoft, and it may lead to lawsuits or investigations by regulatory bodies.
It never has with any previous version of Windows including NT4, 2000, XP and Windows 7.
Microsoft needs to be forced to support by law (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Microsoft should be forced to provide security updates in perpetuity.
Car companies have to provide parts for decades so should Microsoft.
There's a big difference between "in perpetuity" and "for decades."
Re: (Score:3)
Car companies are not forced to provide parts for over 10 years. Note: That's what we're talking about. A 10 year old OS. In fact Microsoft met your requirements here, they provided support as long as most car companies do, which is quite impressive given they are selling you a $150 product rather than a $30000 one.
Re: (Score:2)
Parts are profitable.
They are not. Car companies only offer bare minimum support. In many cases you're entirely reliant on after market parts for cars. That you found one manufacturer who stands behind their product is a wonder in 2025. Please name them and support them. Most companies would rather you buy the latest shiny gadget and make very little profit on managing the logistics of individual items.
Re: (Score:2)
Compelling an actor to do something needs to be VERY carefully considered. "What is good for the goose is good for the gander". It could be you being compelled. Take some time to think about it.
Liar repeating marketing lies (Score:2)
Windows 10's support ends October 14, 2025.
This is a marketing lie to drive adoption of Win11. Shame on /. for repeating false Microsoft claims as fact.
SOME VERSIONS have support ending on that date. Some versions are already out of support. Most importantly, some versions have mainstream, non-ESU support ending in 2027, 2029, and 2032. And not only that, for most use cases these are by far the best versions of Windows 10 (and for a lot of the cases where it's not, 11 can be worse because of them throwing out a lot of compatibility capabilities).
"Devices" ? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
And stay off my lawn!
Damn kids with their "apps" and "devices"...
I'm not sure what my next move is (Score:2)
I just know it's time to give up on Windows on my decade-old desktop. I originally built it in 2015 to be a Hackintosh, but gaming kept it on Windows. I've since moved my gaming to a modern-spec laptop and a Steam Deck OLED, so the desktop is seldom used. When I built the desktop, it was necessary to have a working Mac to get or apply the kexts needed for everything to work on a Hackintosh. I didn't know that going in, and I didn't get a Mac until the M1 era. Now I'm pretty equally at home in Windows,