Windows 10 Support Ends in 3 Weeks – Is Your Business Ready?
Welcome to this month’s tech news. Here you will find:
- Act Now: Windows 10 End of Life in 3 Weeks.
- Microsoft: What’s new?
- Tech Facts: did you know?
- Q & A: what everyone’s asking
- Quiz Time: test your team!
Enjoy the read, and remember to give us a call if you have any IT concerns – we’re here to help!
Windows 10 End of Life in 3 Weeks
Imagine this: one of your business’s most essential tools suddenly becomes unsafe to use.
That’s the situation facing thousands of companies as Microsoft ends free support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025.
After that date, the operating system officially reaches “end of life.” And here’s the critical detail—when support ends, it ends for good. That means:
❌ No more security patches
❌ No bug fixes
❌ No Microsoft support when things go wrong
Your PCs will still switch on, but without protection they’ll be wide open to cyberattacks, downtime, and expensive disruptions.
Why this matters
A recent survey found that nearly 1 in 5 business owners don’t know Windows 10 is being retired, and another 14% have no plan in place. That leaves a huge number of companies dangerously exposed.
Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates (ESUs), but these come at a rising cost every year. They’re a short-term bandage, not a long-term solution.
The smarter move: Upgrade now
Windows 11 isn’t just a newer version—it’s a modern platform built for the way businesses work today:
- Faster performance
- Stronger security features
- Better tools for hybrid teams
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Copilot
But here’s the catch: not every Windows 10 device can upgrade. Some hardware will need replacing. The longer you delay, the greater the risk of scrambling for last-minute—and costly—fixes.
The deadline is fixed
The October 2025 cut-off won’t move. The sooner your business prepares, the smoother (and more affordable) the transition will be.
Ask yourself: “Are we ready for Windows 10 end of life?”
If the answer isn’t a confident yes, now is the time to act.
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At GZD, we specialise in guiding South African businesses through secure, stress-free upgrades. From assessing your current systems to planning hardware replacements and ensuring your data stays protected, we’ll help you get ahead of the deadline.
Request a Windows 11 Upgrade Assessment ‣
What’s new to Microsoft?
Edge makes sharing passwords safer
Microsoft Edge for Business has a new feature to make shared passwords safer.
If your team has ever shared passwords by email or (we can’t believe this still happens) sticky notes, this is for you.
The secure password deployment tool lets people log into approved websites with autofill. But they can’t see, edit, or export the passwords. Everything is encrypted and tied to their work account.
So, you stay in control of who can access what. It’s an easy way to keep credentials safe without making life harder for your team.
Did you know?
You need to be cautious of CVs
Scammers are posing as jobseekers on LinkedIn to target business owners with dangerous malware. They create fake profiles and realistic CV websites that seem safe but are designed to trick people into downloading a hidden backdoor called “More Eggs.” This malware can steal passwords, run commands, and install more malicious software. It’s a sophisticated scam that relies on gaining trust first.
So, if you’re hiring, be cautious about clicking on CV links or downloading files from people you don’t know.
Hackers are tampering with USB charging stations to steal data
This trick, called “juice jacking”, lets them install malware or pull data from your phone the moment you plug in.
Another common tactic is fake public Wi-Fi networks. Once you’re connected, they can grab passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive info. Stick to your own charger or power bank and avoid logging into anything important on public Wi-Fi.
Tech Facts:
- During testing for Windows 95, Microsoft almost brought down an entire software store’s checkout system. A manager went in and bought one copy of every piece of software on the shelves so the team could test it all for compatibility. The total bill went over $10,000 – too much for the cash register to handle. It crashed under the pressure, long before the software got near Windows 95.
- Back in June 1980, Atari’s Asteroids and Lunar Lander became the first video games ever registered with the US Copyright Office. It was a big moment for the gaming world, marking the start of proper copyright protection for video games and helping to shape how intellectual property rights work in the industry today.
- 70% of people admit to swearing at AI chatbots. But interestingly, earlier research showed most people are polite to their digital assistants. 67% of Americans and 71% of Brits say “please,” “thank you,” or even apologise to tools like ChatGPT or smart speakers.
Q & A
Q: Can we rely on email filters to stop phishing attacks?
A: Email filters help, but they’re not foolproof. Staff training and awareness are just as important to stop someone clicking on a dangerous link.
Q: How long should we keep old employee accounts active?
A: You shouldn’t. Unused accounts are a security risk. They should be disabled or deleted as soon as someone leaves.
Q: Is it OK if staff share logins for tools we only have one license for?
A: No. It’s risky and could breach licensing agreements. It’s better (and safer) to have proper accounts for everyone.
Time for a Tech Quiz!
- In computing, what does ROM stand for?
- In what century was Nintendo founded?
- What does IBM stand for?
- What computer term was coined for information that is sent from the browser to the web server?
- What does IoT stand for?
See answers below
Until next time,
The GZD team
Quiz answers:
1. Read Only Memory. 2.19th (1889).
3. International Business Machines.
4. Cookie. 5. Internet of Things.
