For users operating on Windows 10, the urgency to download the latest update cannot be overstated. This month’s Patch Tuesday has unveiled critical fixes for six actively exploited vulnerabilities that could potentially impact up to 240 million individuals. The Cyber Defense Agency in the United States has issued a stark advisory: update your system before April 1st, or consider turning off your computer entirely as a precaution.
While it’s true that there are six active vulnerabilities to be concerned about, Microsoft is also addressing an additional six critical flaws. The focus here, however, remains on the vulnerabilities that are currently being exploited, each with its own alarming implications:
- CVE-2025-24993: A common buffer overflow exploit that allows cybercriminals to overload system memory through a coding error.
- CVE-2025-24991: This vulnerability permits hackers to access all data from a maliciously mounted virtual hard disk (VHD).
- CVE-2025-24984: An exploit that enables attackers to log sensitive information, requiring physical access to the victim’s computer.
- CVE-2025-26633: A bypass flaw in the Microsoft Management Console that poses significant risks.
- CVE-2025-24985: This flaw also necessitates user action to mount a VHD, after which it allows for privilege escalation and potential takeover of the system.
- CVE-2025-24983: A system-level exploit that enables hackers to run specially crafted programs to gain top privileges on the Windows Kernel Subsystem.
Reports indicate that over 600 organizations have already fallen victim to one of these vulnerabilities, highlighting the pressing risks that many more may face. The remaining six vulnerabilities encompass a range of sensitive data exploits, remote desktop client risks, and weaknesses associated with Office documents.
A ticking time bomb?
While the phrase may sound dramatic, the reality is that the solution is straightforward: updating your system is essential. However, Microsoft has announced that security updates for Windows 10 will cease on October 14th, with the company encouraging users to transition to Windows 11. The warning is clear: “Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10.” Although your PC will continue to function, the recommendation is to migrate to Windows 11.
As the transition unfolds—currently reflecting a 60/40 split between Windows 10 and 11 users, with a mere 2% making the switch each month—challenges loom. Canalys Research has revealed that approximately 240 million users possess PCs incompatible with the latest version of Windows. This situation raises concerns about environmental impact, with an estimated 1.1 billion pounds of computing equipment potentially heading to landfills, equivalent to around 320,000 cars.
The pace of migration to Windows 11 remains alarmingly slow, leaving hundreds of millions vulnerable if Microsoft does not consider one of two critical paths:
- Continuing security updates for Windows 10
- Adjusting Windows 11 compatibility to accommodate these older PCs
The stakes are high, with users’ private data hanging in the balance. A call to action is clear: Microsoft must take decisive steps to protect its user base.
