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Windows 10 refuses to die, and the security bill is coming due
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Windows 10 refuses to die, and the security bill is coming due

Approximately 16.9 percent of monitored Windows devices are still running Windows 10, a decline from about half a year ago. Windows 10 will receive updates until October 12, 2027, for consumer devices and until October 10, 2028, for commercial customers. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have 21.4 percent of their machines on Windows 10, with 23 percent in healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors and 22.7 percent in consumer and retail. A Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), compared to 652 on Windows 11. Only 14 percent of Windows 10 assets have Extended Security Updates (ESU) patches applied. Many devices are tied to vendor certifications that complicate upgrades, and the rising cost of new PC hardware is a concern. The stagnation of Windows 11 adoption continues, with minimal change in market share distribution.
Microsoft's July patches fix over 600 flaws, shattering last month's record
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Microsoft’s July patches fix over 600 flaws, shattering last month’s record

Microsoft has released its July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, addressing 570 new security vulnerabilities, bringing the total for the month to over 620. The cumulative count of vulnerabilities patched this year has reached 1,380, exceeding the total of 1,250 for the entire year of 2020. Over 400 vulnerabilities are related to various versions of Windows, and the Windows 10 Extended Security Update program has been extended until October 12, 2027. Notable vulnerabilities include CVE-2026-56155 in Active Directory Federation Services, which allows attackers to gain administrator rights, and several critical Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-57092 in Hyper-V and CVE-2026-56190 in Remote Desktop Protocol. Microsoft has also patched 97 vulnerabilities in Office products, with 17 classified as critical RCE vulnerabilities, and four vulnerabilities in Exchange Server, including CVE-2026-55008. The latest Microsoft Edge update addresses 27 vulnerabilities related to Chromium, and a vulnerability in Minecraft Bedrock servers has been patched.
Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reach end of support in 90 days
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reach end of support in 90 days

Microsoft announced that Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will stop receiving updates on October 13, 2026. The Enterprise and Education editions will continue to receive mainstream support until October 12, 2027. Users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 25H2, which became available in September 2024. For unmanaged Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro users, the transition to 25H2 will occur automatically, although they can postpone the update. Microsoft has also extended the free Windows 10 Extended Security Updates program for consumers until October 12, 2027.
Microsoft is ending support for some versions of Windows 10 and 11 soon
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Microsoft is ending support for some versions of Windows 10 and 11 soon

Microsoft has extended support for Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) until October 2027. Windows 11 version 24H2 will reach end of support on October 13, 2026, along with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016. Windows 11 versions typically offer 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions, while Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 had five years of mainstream support followed by five years of extended support. Windows 11 version 23H2 is also expected to sunset around the same time. Users on Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro are recommended to upgrade to version 25H2, with version 26H2 anticipated soon. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education SKUs of version 24H2 have an extra year of support until October 12, 2027. Organizations using Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 should consider transitioning to Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2024 or purchasing ESUs separately.
Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021
Winsage
July 12, 2026

Microsoft is killing 15 products in 2026, including Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021

Microsoft will discontinue support for several products in 2026, including: 1. Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) - End of servicing on October 13, 2026. 2. Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 - End of support on October 13, 2026. 3. Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 - Final ESU year ending on October 13, 2026. 4. SQL Server 2016 - Extended end of support on July 14, 2026. 5. SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019, Project Server 2016 and 2019 - Support ends on July 14, 2026. 6. Microsoft Publisher - Retired after October 2026. 7. Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, Skype for Business Server - Final ESU cutoff on October 31, 2026. 8. Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, .NET 8, .NET 9, PowerShell 7.4 - End of servicing on November 10, 2026. 9. Windows 10 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 - Extended support ends on October 13, 2026. 10. Windows 11 SE - Support ends on October 1, 2026. 11. Dynamics CRM 2016 and older versions - Lost support earlier in January 2026. 12. Microsoft Configuration Manager, version 2409 - End of support on June 6, 2026. 13. Visual Studio 2022 LTSC channels, versions 17.10 and 17.12 - End of support in January and July 2026, respectively. 14. InfoPath 2013, SharePoint Designer 2013 - End of support on July 14, 2026. 15. Azure service retirements - Occurring in late 2026. Organizations are advised to review their software landscape and plan for transitions to avoid disruptions.
Users baffled by odd official Microsoft design that remixes Windows 11 with 10
Winsage
July 11, 2026

Users baffled by odd official Microsoft design that remixes Windows 11 with 10

Microsoft has implemented a solution for issues affecting the shell components on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, which were causing user interaction difficulties. A user on Reddit highlighted a design inconsistency where elements of Windows 11 were integrated into the Windows 10 framework, specifically on the "About" page in the Settings app. This observation resonated with many users, leading to confusion and frustration. Microsoft is modernizing various OS components but is unlikely to prioritize fixing design issues in Windows 10 due to its limited support status. The company's focus is shifting towards artificial intelligence and the development of a web-based Windows AI operating system.
Windows Weekly 990: Don't Be Nostalgic for Stupid
Winsage
July 2, 2026

Windows Weekly 990: Don’t Be Nostalgic for Stupid

Microsoft has extended the Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) program for consumers by an additional year, now set to end in October 2027. Significant changes are being made to the Windows Insider experience, including a new Windows Update feature and the introduction of five new builds. Microsoft has started offering 8 GB models of its Surface Pro and Laptop, while discontinuing its Surface Go products. HP has partnered with OpenAI, and Anthropic has launched Sonnet 5. Xbox Series X|S prices are set to increase on August 1, coinciding with the discontinuation of the 2 TB X model. Microsoft may lay off approximately 5,500 employees, about 2.5 percent of its workforce. The Minecraft Bedrock edition has introduced closed captions, and Sony plans to cease the sale of physical PS media by 2028.
Steve Ballmer once trashed Linux as "a cancer" — now it’s saving Windows 10 holdouts
Winsage
July 1, 2026

Steve Ballmer once trashed Linux as “a cancer” — now it’s saving Windows 10 holdouts

In 2001, Steve Ballmer, then CEO of Microsoft, referred to Linux as a "cancer" threatening Microsoft's intellectual property and likened its users to "communist thieves." By 2016, after Microsoft ported SQL Server to Linux, Ballmer expressed enthusiasm for the change and acknowledged that the conflict with open-source had benefited Microsoft's financial success. In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted the company had been on the wrong side of history regarding open source and noted the need for change. Microsoft has since embraced open-source technologies, introducing products like Azure Linux 4.0, built on Fedora. As Windows 11's transition becomes difficult for users, advocacy groups have criticized Microsoft for ending support for Windows 10, which could lead to millions of discarded computers. Microsoft extended Windows 10's life through an Extended Security Updates program until October 14, 2026, with a recent announcement pushing it to 2027. Rising hardware costs and design flaws in Windows 11 have led some users to consider alternatives like Linux. A survey revealed that 30% of PCs are still running Windows 10, and a poll showed that 68% of respondents plan to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.
Steve Ballmer once called Linux a “cancer” — it's funny Windows 10 holdouts may now see it as the cure for Windows 11’s hardware rules and the RAM crisis
Winsage
June 30, 2026

Steve Ballmer once called Linux a “cancer” — it’s funny Windows 10 holdouts may now see it as the cure for Windows 11’s hardware rules and the RAM crisis

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer initially described Linux as a "cancer" in 2001 but changed his perspective by 2016, supporting Microsoft's decision to port SQL Server to Linux. Microsoft President Brad Smith acknowledged the company's past underestimation of the open-source movement in 2020. Microsoft has integrated open-source solutions into its products, including PowerShell and Visual Studio Code, and launched Azure Linux 4.0. As Microsoft phases out support for Windows 10, critics argue this leads to programmed obsolescence, affecting up to 400 million PCs. Microsoft extended support for Windows 10 through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program until October 14, 2026, with an additional extension through 2027. Rising hardware costs and stringent requirements for Windows 11 hinder many users' transitions. Advocacy groups are encouraging users to consider Linux, highlighting its advantages. Recent surveys show that 30% of HP PCs still run Windows 10, and a poll indicated that 68% of participants plan to stay with Windows 10 through 2027. There is a growing awareness among consumers regarding the potential shift to open-source alternatives like Linux.
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