Microsoft pressed to expand free Windows 10 security updates in most Europe

Another victory for consumers in the European Union. Wednesday, microsoft Retreat On the strings attached to the expanded safety updates program in Windows 10 (ESU). However, I only did so in European Economic Zone (EEA) After complaints about the invitation group. The elephant in the room? The European Union Digital Markets Law (DMA) protects against illegal assembly and restricting consumer selection. If the company had not retracted, these regulations could have caused huge investigations and fines.

“In the European Economic Zone, we are making updates to the registration process to ensure local expectations and provide a safe and simplified experience,” a Microsoft spokesman told Microsoft. Windows Central. “Our goal is to support customers and provide them with options while they are moving to Windows 11, with uninterrupted arrival to important safety updates.”

This step stems from Microsoft’s decisions regarding the future of Windows 10. In early 2023, the company said it will only support Decisive security updates for the operating system Until October 2025.

Since then, the company launched the ESU program. He – she Consumers are allowed to pay $ 30 To add a year extension to safety updates. Windows maker also added “free” options. The first is to enable a backup copy of Windows Cloud using a Microsoft account. However, this uses OneDrive. Once the free storage capacity exceeds 5 GB, you will need to pay more. (If you have a lot of big files to backup, it is likely to apply.) The other option is 1000 points are spent Microsoft BonusesAnd who is not everyone lying around.

Org euroconsumers He called Microsoft In June. “Reducing safety means reducing the life of the product,” said non -profit organizations. Microsoft’s Windows requirements were described as “planned statute of limitations”. This is a practice I intentionally design products with a limited age. Comfortable for large technology, this tends to increase sales. Uncomfortable for consumers, it is an additional cost.

The planned limitations is also a term that can draw the anger of the European Union organizers. Titans can be forced like Microsoft that violates that DMA can be forced to pay up to 10 percent of its global annual rotation.

EUROCONSUMERS said that Microsoft was heading consumers towards two options. “Buy a new device before you are ready or adhere to the current security risks and an increased face,” he wrote. The group noted that 22 percent of European Union computers are still operating the Windows from 2017 or before. 2018 is often considered a primary line for the Windows 11 operating system, given the technical requirements of the program.

Although computers in the European Economic Zone now have an additional year, the rest of the world is not very lucky. If you are still running Windows 10, you only have until October 14 to do one of three things: upgrade to Windows 11 (choose the preferred Microsoft), pay $ 30, or run Windows Backup, or a fork on reward points. Choose wisely.