Microsoft Will Eventually Start Charging You for Windows 10 Security Updates

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Just be aware that the tech giant will force you to dip into your wallet to keep accessing security fixes and small bug hunts.

The current version, 22H2, will be the last of its kind for Windows 10, though it will still get monthly security updates all the way through the OS’ planned death date.

Businesses can purchase yearly ESU subscriptions, though Microsoft still has yet to detail how individual users can buy into the program.

Windows 8 lasted about 10 years before it stopped receiving free security updates, but the company decided not to provide ESU service to the much less popular OS.

The Taiwanese outlet The Commercial Times (via Tom’s Hardware) reported last week that Microsoft could release Windows 12 in June 2024.

Eventually, the only way you’ll be able to keep using Microsoft’s latest operating system is to strap yourself into a cramped, economy seat on the tech giant’s big AI passenger jet.

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Does this mean they'll finally stop updating and rebooting my computer without my permission?

This seals it. Windows 10 will doom windows and Linux will rise.

As well they should, hahaha. Only a putz won't update ... /s

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edit: combined comments, fixed spacing/format

Despite all the EOS dates and warnings, you can still get "free" monthly security updates for Windows 7 directly from Windows Update [1]. Windows 10 IoT LTSC support ends in 2032 [2]. If the trend continues, as long as you are OK with some morally dubious practices, you can get security updates for your installation for at least 10 years.

[1] https://catalog.s.download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/secu/2023/11/windows6.1-kb5032250-x64_d8e46484ed20fbf8e4efd4d239070bb229a7d3f1.msu

[2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021

What’s morally dubious about this?

For Windows 7 you have to manually force-install an update (from Microsoft) which unlocks further ESU updates. One can view this either as modifying software for ensuring interoperability (which is allowed in most of EU) or as bypassing DRM (which gets you a jail time under DMCA).

For Windows 10 you have to obtain Enterprise LTSC license. Those come only via volume-deals and are not officially available for us mere mortals. On the other hand, in EU reselling licenses is explicitly allowed (no matter what EULA tells you) and there are tons of dirt-cheap second-hand LTSC licenses. Again - one can see this as either outright stealing or exercising your consumer rights.

No idea how that applies to US laws.

Note that the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise will continue to receive updates based on their specific lifecycles.

This does not affect LTSC users. Updates continue at least until 2027 for mainstream support.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information

Same as usual, they were doing this until just recently with Windows 7 updates

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information

Windows 8 didn't get an ESU program though, I have to assume because it didn't get the adoption of 7 and people mostly moved on to 10.

The difference is that the Windows 10 updates will be available as a subscription for regular consumers rather than being purely for enterprise customers. AFAIK this is a first for Microsoft.