Staying on Windows 10? Infostealers could be lurking, experts warn
With six months left to go until the official end of support for Windows 10, more than half of all Windows users are still relying on the operating system.
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With six months left to go until the official end of support for Windows 10, more than half of all Windows users are still relying on the operating system.
Over 54% of Windows users were using Windows 10 in March, while Windows 11's share climbed to 42.7%, Statcounter data shows.
According to a report by threat exposure management platform NordStellar, slow migration poses risks for both individual users and organizations.
The platform’s data reveal that 59% of systems affected by infostealers in December 2024 still run Windows 10. This puts a large pool of machines at greater risk of attacks since they will no longer receive any security updates, vulnerability patches, or support from the software creator.
“Windows 10 has been heavily targeted for years due to its popularity. However, it will have an even bigger target on its back in the wake of its end of life, which will eventually create new vulnerabilities,” says Vakaris Noreika, a cybersecurity expert at NordStellar.
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While the Windows 11 adoption rate is growing, it climbed by less than 5% from February to March. This adoption rate is still too low.
Based on the current adoption rate, Nord Stellar estimates that approximately 30-40% of systems may still be running Windows 10 when it reaches end of life in October.
"We saw a similar pattern of delayed migration with Windows 7. Six months until the operational system's end of life, it held a 23% market share. When the deadline finally arrived in July 2020, its market share dropped by just 3%, lowering its dominance to 20%," Noreika says.
He highlights that outdated operating system vulnerabilities go beyond just infostealers. These weaknesses can make cyberattacks more effective, potentially leading to data leaks. For companies, this could result in millions in losses and damage to client trust.
Last year, Microsoft announced that it would end support for Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025. However, users and organizations will be able to extend security updates for a year for an additional fee.