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Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in the near future.  This will occur in October of 2025, which is exactly ten years after the release of the operating system. 

What is Microsoft’s operating system history?

Microsoft has had its share of hits and misses with operating systems over the past quarter century.  After missing the mark with Windows Millennium Edition (ME for short), Windows XP (for Extra Performance) became a huge hit.  It expanded networking options and brought the Internet to the mainstream, along with enhanced USB support and connectivity.  Windows Vista, which followed, was a universal flop.  It was quickly replaced with Windows 7, which was another great success. 

Microsoft attempted to compete with Apple in its launch of Windows 8, an OS that featured tiles and touch-screen capabilities- but offered a significantly degraded experience.  Microsoft then corrected this failed launch with a highly successful Windows 10.  It’s almost as if the Redmond, WA software giant intentionally skipped a number in its sequence to distance itself from Windows 8! 

And here we are, with Windows 10 aging out in favor of its highly regarded successor, Windows 11. 

What does this mean to you?

Nothing at the moment.  You can continue to enjoy your laptop or PC running Windows 10.  But in a little over a year, your older devices will no longer receive updates.  They will likely still function, but they will not be as secure as modern devices running Windows 11.  In other words, it’s safe to read this article, but not recommended to check your stock portfolio’s performance or do your daily banking. 

Can I upgrade to Windows 11?

It depends.  Some users with newer devices have the hardware capable of handling the new OS requirements.  Other older machines, especially those built before 2018, will likely fail to meet the threshold.  You can check here to see if you meet the minimum requirements.

Black Friday deals have already been leaked.  Head to Black Friday and see all of the in-store and online specials that have already been published.  While some of these scanned ads contain live deals, most point to prices that will only be unlocked on Black Friday.

Make sure you know what you are purchasing. Most “deals” are a watered-down offering that contains lesser components, or older models the manufacturer is desperate to sell. For example, a hard drive released during Q1 might be overstocked, and the manufacturer needs to get rid of it before the end of the year. Similarly, a device that had trouble selling was dumped on a big box store, which agrees to resell them for a lower price while getting a kickback.

One idea is to search 3rd party sites that critique deals. It’s important to know what you are buying, but why it is available at that price. For 2019, here’s a great resource that identifies some deals and “too good to believe” options for this year. This PC World article also identifies some MSRP’s that might just be too good to be true, in addition to some true deals.

Web browsers used to be so simple.  You turn on your computer and use the browser that came installed on the computer.  Next, we had the choice of installing different browsers.  Some were faster.  Some offered better security.  And some offered add-ons or extensions to enhance our browsing experience.  And then they all learned how to monetize our browsing habits.

Did you search for “kid’s bike” using Google search?  Hmm, check out that bicycle ad that now appears in Gmail.  And why is there a Schwinn advertisement in your Facebook feed?  How did a BMX ad appear in the middle of that editorial on USA Today?  Seriously, a bike rack ad on the Weather Channel’s site?

Your browsers are watching you.  They track your digital movements and share them.  Your habits are being monitored, collected and sold.

Why is this happening?

Marketing is an expensive industry.  Companies would love to know how you think, and what would make you buy their product.  Not only do they want you to know what you would buy, but when you would like to buy it and how often you’d buy similar products.  They want macro trends as well- are bicycle searches more prevalent for women ages 35-44 or men ages 25-34.  And how many of these bicycle searches come from people who have looked at running shoes in the past 6 months?  Are bike searches more common for people looking to buy a home or rent?

This data is a goldmine.  Search engines and web browsers can take your information and create a digital profile, and sell it to marketers.  Marketers then have better insight into how, when and why you may purchase a certain item.

Can I stop this from happening?

Sure.  Throw away your smart phone and don’t use the Internet.  You should be in good shape.  From a practical standpoint, you cannot stop this from happening.  However, you can limit the rampant collection of your personal data.  Here are some ways that you can limit your digital footprint:

• Follow these 7 Simple Steps from Robert Epstein
• Suggestions on how to keep your kids safe online, if children access the Internet at your house
• Learn how Europe is taking the lead in limiting individual data collection

Contact us for help

If these topics seem intimidating or confusing, contact us for help.  We can install software and take other security measures to make sure share your private data as infrequently as possible.