US petition calls for free security updates for Windows 10
Consumer protection organizations warn: never have so many computers been cut off from security updates as after the end of Windows 10. The waste would be huge.
Hundreds of millions of functioning computers are at risk of being thrown away unrecycled. But if they continue to run without updates, a security fiasco is imminent.
(Image: RitaE, gemeinfrei)
“People are tired of short-lived electronics that force us to upgrade, take away software support, or put unexpected payment barriers in front of basic functions,” Andre Delattre fumes. “This throwaway system littered the planet, violated our consumer rights, and is simply annoying. It's time to fix it.” Delattre is Chief Operating Officer of the US consumer protection network PIRG. With a large petition, it is trying to put pressure on Microsoft to continue providing free security updates for Windows 10 despite the planned end of Windows 10.
In addition to over 16,000 consumers, 382 repair shops and non-profit organizations, 83 politicians, 49 environmental or consumer protection organizations, and representatives from 19 educational institutions, including libraries, have signed the US petition. It is addressed to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and points out that around 40 percent of all computers cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, even if their owners wanted to.
The reason for this is the increased, strict hardware requirements that Microsoft has set for Windows 11. Hundreds of millions of computers would be thrown away, making it impossible for Microsoft to achieve its sustainability goals. On average, only a quarter of all abandoned devices are sent to a recycling program.
Of course, almost all Windows 10 devices can be upgraded to other operating systems, such as Linux or ChromeOS Free free of charge, but this is also rarely utilized. According to Statcounter, 70 percent of all desktop computers run some form of Windows.
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1-year grace period with Extended Security Updates
In the European Economic Area, consumer advocates have already succeeded in getting Microsoft to provide automatic security updates for Windows 10 without further ado for another year, until 13 October 2026. The reference to EU law, namely the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Content Directive, along with the European Union's sustainability goals, helped here.
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Outside the EEA, Microsoft is still offering consumers twelve monthly security updates if they either pay 30 US dollars plus tax or 1,000 points from Microsoft's customer loyalty program. Alternatively, they can pay with their data by activating Windows Backup, which continuously uploads files, software, and settings, including any Wi-Fi credentials, to the Microsoft cloud.
Problem has never been so big
The US consumer protection network PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) is not enthusiastic about this. “Cutting off hundreds of millions of computers from support is uniquely harmful to consumers, the environment, and public safety,” says PIRG manager Nathan Proctor. “Simply put, never before have so many computers been cut off from support in one go.”
This is certainly true. On the one hand, there are simply more computers in use than in previous deaths of leading operating systems. On the other hand, previous Windows editions have run much longer after the introduction of a successor. Microsoft continued to maintain Windows XP for seven years after the introduction of Windows Vista; with Windows 7, it was even eight years after Windows 8. This time, only four years have passed since the market launch of the current Windows 11. This means that a significantly higher percentage of the global computer fleet is directly affected.
In addition, there were no strict hardware restrictions in previous generation changes. Older computers may have groaned under the load of the newer Windows system but could generally continue to be operated. This time it's different: Microsoft is forbidding Windows 11 on countless otherwise functional devices.
At the same time, Microsoft has not yet managed to push through Windows 11. According to Statcounter estimates, Windows 11 fell below 50 percent of all Windows desktops connected to the internet in August and September. Windows 10 remains above 40 percent, while the long obsolete Windows 7 is experiencing an astonishing upswing to ten percent. Now, Statcounter data should not be put on the pharmacy scales, but they clearly show one thing: Windows 11 is not selling itself.
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