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Let’s Chat About: Risk (and Windows 10)

You face it constantly

Applies to Windows: 11, 10

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11 comments on “Let’s Chat About: Risk (and Windows 10)”

  1. I found the article informative, a little confusing for me but most technology subjects are. I have never heard of Linux and will need to go to a tech store to check it out and take my current laptop with me to have them see if it an option. I was wondering if I can keep my old laptop and just have the new hardware installed, asked about it and was told it would be more expensive than purchasing a new laptop with new hardware, bummer. I currently use Lenovo products but would be interested in what others have to say about the article, options and opinions on which products they believe would be a good option for the ones listed above. Thank you for helping those of us who are not more tech savvy than searching or emailing and heavy cancer research, current Windows 10 has been sufficient but would like ability to do a little more.

    Reply
  2. I’m glad you mentioned the fact that people are still happily and (in some cases, relatively safely) running older versions of Windows.

    Safe practices and keeping virus protection/malware protection software updated can go a long way to keeping yourself safe. My wife still has Win7 and an old version of Office on her PC. The only time there’s been a malware problem is down to the cat. It was in her lap when she accidentally landed on a site that started madly popping “Click Here” boxes all over the screen. As she went to close the browser (she’s been well taught), the cat, fascinated by all the on-screen activity, leapt onto the keyboard to get a closer look. And must have landed on the Y key. What a mess. But all in all, it took me less time to clean up her computer than we’d have lost to constant updates during the computer’s life, so I call it a win.

    We just need better-trained cats.

    The single biggest risk to security, IMO, isn’t clever hackers sneaking into your computer somehow (though it does happen). It’s the person (or pet) at the keyboard who’s willing to click on anything that presents itself. A bit of thought and a healthy dollop of suspicion will take you a long way down the road to computer safety.

    Thanks again for all the good advice, every time.

    Reply
  3. As Leo says, you can safely continue to use Windows 10 for quite some time, perhaps for several years after it reaches End Of life on October 25, 2025 (IIRC). On the other hand, you can switch to a GNU/Linux distribution. The term “Linux” refers to that collection of Operating Systems that use the Linux kernel as their core. They are called distributions, because they all use some version of the Linux kernel as well as various versions of many of the same applications. The differences between distributions involve how ‘friendly’ they are for users new to the Linux world, how well they support older hardware, and how they present themselves (their graphical user interface/user experience features/desktop environment).

    One option you may want to try is Q4OS, because it can be installed from within Windows, just like you would install any application, to see if Linux could be for you. This way, if you decide Linux isn’t for you after trying to use it for a while, you can ‘uninstall’ it the same way you would any program. On the other hand, if you decide you like Linux, and want to install it permanently, replacing Windows, I’d suggest you try Linux Mint, or Linux Lite.

    For these, you may want to try installing them into a virtual machine program first. Oracle Virtual Box is free for personal use, and it’s easy to learn how to use. After installing Virtual Box, you can download Linux Mint and/or Linux Lite from the Internet. These installers come in the form of an ISO file that you would use in Virtual Box to install the distribution into a virtual machine. You would then run the virtual machine to use the Linux distribution. The main caveat to this method is that the Linux distribution will run significantly slower in the virtual machine than it will when installed to the computer itself, replacing Windows.

    If you decide to switch to one of the Linux distributions mentioned above, or you find one that works well for you on your own, you will need to put the ISO image onto a USB stick with at least 8-16GB capacity using a program such as Rufus or Balena Etcher.

    I know this is a lot to take in, and what I suggest involves a significant learning curve, but I hope it helps, at least a little,

    Ernie

    Reply
  4. I understand the need to go with another operating system that may be safer than the about to be abandoned Windows 10. An alternate may be safer but only because it is less used, and thus the hackers have fewer chances to gain from pursuing it. This scenario reminds me when Microsoft abandoned the excellent operating system Windows XP.

    Most often offered as an alternative to Windows 10 is Linux. I have played with Linux just to see what it offers. For an average user of Windows 10 who mainly relies on surfing the net and maybe do some shopping Linux will do fine. But there are some of us who need more traditional software as part of our daily responsibilities. For me, I have been using Windows based software for personal accounting, investment tracking, income tax returns, planning, communicating, research, writing, art work, and more. Some of this software does show up on Linux in bits and pieces, but far from a satisfactory way. For my needs Linux just would not do. There is not enough user demand on Linux to justify software companies to invest in them at this point. So, that leaves us with two options (note that I did not use the often mistaken word ‘choices’ in this instance) of staying with the loss of support for Windows 10, or buying a new computer that comes with the trivially fluffed up interface to Windows 10 masquerading as Windows 11. Microsoft with its Windows XX options is not exactly a monopoly, but in practical use it is. My options at this point are to stay with Windows 10 or buy a new computer. I resent that.

    Reply
  5. Hi Leo and team, firstly i follow your articles religiously as I’ve learned so much in the last few years thanks to you guys. My question is: would the risk of using Windows 10 after end of support be minimized if I kept using my NordVPN at all times? Wouldn’t that prevent a lot of security issues or would it help in any way?
    Carlo

    Reply
    • That would add a level of security as it puts the VPN between you and the internet and encrypts everything between you and them. But I don’t believe it will protect your system from all vulnerabilities in Windows 10 itself, which will no longer receive security updates from Microsoft

      Reply
    • Short answer: I don’t believe this will aid in any way related to Windows 10’s end of support. You’re still connected to the internet, just via a different point. Everything else remains the same.

      Reply

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