consumer rights Archives

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

PC Games Class Action Certified

The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has granted certification for opt-out proceedings against Valve Corporation, alleging that approximately 14 million consumers have been overcharged for games and additional content on Steam, potentially amounting to £656 million. The claim accuses Valve of abusing market dominance through practices such as Platform Parity Obligations, Anti-steering and Tying Provisions, and excessive commission charges. Valve contested the certification, questioning the methodologies for establishing liability and loss, but the CAT dismissed these objections. The Tribunal examined the Class Representative’s funding arrangements and concluded that the claim is representative of a large group of consumers with moderate losses, aligning with the Supreme Court's description of a 'paradigm' case for opt-out certification. Legal representation for the Class Representative was provided by Milberg London LLP and the claim is financially supported by Bench Walk Advisors.

Tech Optimizer

December 7, 2025

FTC sends $15.3 million in refunds to Avast antivirus customers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing million to 103,152 consumers affected by misleading marketing practices related to Avast's antivirus software. This distribution began on December 2, 2025, as part of a settlement finalized in June 2024, which addressed allegations that Avast collected, stored, and sold users' browsing information without proper notice or consent. Consumers can receive payments via checks, PayPal, or Zelle, with specific timeframes for cashing or redeeming funds. Rust Consulting, Inc. is the refund administrator, and individuals are advised not to pay any fees or provide account information to file claims. The settlement also imposes restrictions on Avast, including a permanent ban on selling web browsing data for advertising and a requirement to obtain clear consent from users for any future data sales.

Winsage

October 15, 2025

The End of Windows 10 Support Is an E-Waste Disaster in the Making

Free support for Windows 10 ended at midnight on Wednesday, affecting around 400 million computers that cannot upgrade to Windows 11. This has raised environmental concerns about increased electronic waste, as many unsupported devices may end up in landfills. Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10, prompting concerns for businesses and institutions that rely on these systems. Over 42 percent of Windows users still use Windows 10, and the decision to discontinue support has been criticized as perplexing. Microsoft continues to offer security updates for a fee, raising questions about corporate responsibility. Consumer rights group PIRG has initiated a campaign urging Microsoft to reconsider its decision, citing a precedent where Google extended support for Chromebooks after advocacy efforts.

Winsage

October 14, 2025

Microsoft Ends Support for Windows 10 Tuesday. Here’s What You Need to Know

Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, meaning no more feature updates or technical assistance will be provided. An Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will be available for users who continue to use Windows 10 after this date, offering critical security updates until October 13, 2026. To upgrade to Windows 11, a computer must meet specific system requirements, including a 1 GHz or faster processor, 4GB of memory, and DirectX 12-compatible graphics. Users with ineligible devices may still find ways to upgrade by adjusting settings. Enrollment in the ESU program can be done through the Windows Update section in Settings, with options to pay a fee, sync settings to OneDrive, or redeem Microsoft Rewards points. Free enrollment is available for Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area. Users must be signed into a Microsoft account and have Windows 10 Version 22H2 installed to access the enrollment wizard.

Winsage

October 2, 2025

Microsoft Is Abandoning Windows 10. Hackers Are Celebrating.

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, impacting hundreds of millions of computers in the U.S. and raising concerns about increased electronic waste, estimated to exceed one billion pounds. Approximately 42 percent of Windows computers globally still use Windows 10, compared to only 4 percent for Windows 8 when support was discontinued in 2016. Users unable to upgrade to Windows 11 face limited options: pay for extended support or replace their devices, which can be financially burdensome. Nearly 43 percent of active PCs running Windows 10 are not equipped to upgrade to Windows 11, which requires a 64-bit processor, 64 GB of storage, and a high-definition display. Without ongoing updates, devices running unsupported software become more vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. The FBI estimates that internet crimes will cost U.S. consumers over billion in 2024, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. Consumer advocates emphasize the need for manufacturers to disclose support timelines, with 72 percent of Americans believing this information should be mandatory.

Winsage

September 29, 2025

Windows 10 holdouts get another year of software updates

Microsoft has agreed to extend free updates for Windows 10 users in Europe for an additional year, responding to pressure from consumer advocacy groups. The Dutch Consumers’ Association expressed satisfaction but urged Microsoft to consider ongoing free updates as long as many consumers continue to use Windows 10. Microsoft originally planned to cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. In June 2025, Microsoft announced that security updates would be provided at no cost to users of specific Microsoft services, abandoning a previous fee structure for updates.

Winsage

September 27, 2025

Microsoft agrees to 11th hour Win 10 end of life concessions

Microsoft will provide a no-cost Extended Security Updates (ESU) option for Windows 10 consumer users in the European Economic Area (EEA) in response to feedback from Euroconsumers. Previously, users could obtain a year of extended security updates for a fee after the end-of-life date of October 14, 2025. Euroconsumers expressed concerns that the earlier policy did not align with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) or the EU's sustainability goals. The revised ESU option will not require users to back up settings, apps, or credentials, or use Microsoft Rewards. However, Euroconsumers believe the one-year extension does not fully address broader issues related to the Digital Content Directive and sustainability goals, particularly since many users may face hardware limitations preventing them from upgrading to Windows 11. Over 850 million active devices still rely on Windows 10, with 22 percent of consumers using PCs or laptops from 2017 or earlier that cannot be upgraded. Euroconsumers plans to continue discussions with Microsoft regarding extended device protection for consumers. The implications for Windows 10 users in the UK remain unclear.

Winsage

September 25, 2025

Major backtrack as Microsoft makes Windows 10 extended security updates FREE for an extra year — but only in certain markets

Microsoft will provide free Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) for an additional year, extending the deadline to October 14, 2026. This update eliminates the requirement for users to sign in with a Microsoft account and sync their PC settings to the cloud to receive these updates. Users outside the EEA must still sign in with a Microsoft account, pay a fee, or redeem Microsoft Reward points to access the ESU program.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Minecraft Faces a Class-Action Storm: Small Creator vs. Mojang and Microsoft

Kian Brose, a developer and content creator, has launched a crowdfunding campaign raising 0,000 for a class-action lawsuit against Mojang and Microsoft, claiming violations of European consumer protection laws. He alleges that Mojang modified its End User License Agreement (EULA) 47 times without proper notification, enforced hidden internal rules, and coerced players into migrating accounts to Microsoft under the threat of losing access, which may violate EU consumer law and GDPR requirements for consent. The lawsuit is opt-in, allowing affected players to join and submit evidence. Community reactions are mixed, with some supporting the initiative and others expressing skepticism about its viability against a large corporation. The lawsuit is set against the backdrop of updated EU collective-redress directives and could lead to various outcomes, including policy changes, dismissal, regulatory scrutiny, or a symbolic victory for digital rights.

Winsage

August 11, 2025

California man sues Microsoft over Windows 11 upgrades

Lawrence Klein, a California resident, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft regarding the company's plans to retire Windows 10. Klein, whose laptops are incompatible with Windows 11 due to the lack of a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM), is seeking continued free updates for Windows 10 until its user base significantly decreases. He argues that Microsoft has violated California's business and consumer protection laws by forcing unnecessary upgrades and neglecting security updates for Windows 10 users. Support for Windows 10 is set to end on October 14, and Klein's legal team claims that many users are not prepared to transition to new devices or pay for extended support. Microsoft offers a paid extended support plan for Windows 10, but Klein is advocating for free support until Windows 10's market share falls below 10%. The lawsuit also criticizes the rapid phaseout of Windows 10, noting that historically, Microsoft has provided longer support periods for previous operating systems. At the time of the phaseout announcement, Windows 10 still held over 50% of the market share, with nearly 43% of users remaining on the older OS. Klein's argument suggests that the transition to Windows 11 has been expedited to benefit Microsoft and its hardware partners financially.