Deadly Game of Russian Roulette: An Examination of Major Incident Involving Firearm - "PCs Running on Windows 10 Still Abundant: Russian Roulette Scenario"
In the digital landscape of Germany, a significant number of personal computers are at risk due to the impending end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. According to recent statistics, around 27.4 million PCs in Germany are still running on the outdated Windows 10, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks and system malfunctions.
Security company Eset, based in Jena, Germany, has warned that continuing to use an outdated operating system is akin to playing Russian roulette with data. The company bases its calculations on its own telemetry data and has cross-checked the results with the statistics service StatCounter.
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), based in Berlin, Germany, recommends a timely upgrade to Windows 11 or even a switch to another operating system such as macOS or Linux as alternatives. However, many users might unknowingly expose themselves to security gaps, as the usage of Windows 10 remains high in Germany (around 56.64% as of mid-2025).
After the end of support, German Windows 10 users face increased security risks, including exposure to new cyber threats, increased likelihood of data breaches and unauthorized access, software compatibility issues with newer applications and hardware, possible system instability or performance degradation, and the absence of official technical support from Microsoft for troubleshooting.
For users who cannot or do not want to upgrade to Windows 11, alternatives include upgrading hardware or purchasing a new PC that meets Windows 11 requirements, considering alternative operating systems such as supported Linux distributions, using the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (though this is typically aimed at enterprises and comes at added cost), remaining on Windows 10 without support, or exploring third-party security solutions and strict cybersecurity hygiene.
Ranjit Atwal, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, expects fire sales in the second half of the year due to full warehouses of PC manufacturers. However, the market research firm forecasts that the end of support for Windows 10 will not lead to a boom for PC manufacturers due to increased economic and geopolitical risks.
Microsoft offers private users and commercial customers an additional year of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for 30 US dollars (around 27 euros) for Windows 10. However, IT Security Expert Opel from Eset advises against purchasing the extended support as it only delays the upgrade and is costly for many organizations.
As the deadline approaches, users are urged to proactively plan their migration or consider alternatives to avoid "playing Russian roulette" with their PC security. The potential risks are too high to ignore, especially in Germany where a majority still use Windows 10.
Sources:
- Eset
- StatCounter
- BSI
- Gartner
- Given the widespread use of Windows 10 in Germany and the impending end of support for the operating system, the community policy of prioritizing cybersecurity should emphasize the importance of timely upgrades to Windows 11 or alternative operating systems like macOS or Linux, as recommended by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
- As technology advances, employment policies in companies must address the security risks associated with the use of outdated operating systems, such as Windows 10 post-end-of-support, and provide guidelines for employees to either upgrade to Windows 11 or explore alternatives, ensuring a secure digital environment.
