Microsoft is set to retire the Windows 10 Fall Creators update today as it reaches the end of its servicing agreement. As some will be aware, each major feature update comes with 18 months of support and servicing, at which point the company will focus its resources in other areas.
In other words, those still on Windows 10 1709 will need to upgrade immediately to continue receiving vital security updates. The exception is Windows 10 Enterprise and Education builds, which receive support until 14th of April 2020.
Under that same philosophy, Education and Enterprise can expect an end to Windows 10 1607 servicing today. Home and Education users faced this change last year, after all. It’ll be joined by Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, which will receive its last security update.
Meanwhile, the time for users on Windows 10 1803 is ticking down. The Windows 10 April 2018 update will lose support on 11th December 2019. Any user can update free of charge to receive new features, security updates, and fixes.
Is Security Really a Concern?
It’s easy to write off security updates as more hassle than they’re worth. It feels unlikely you’ll be the target of a hack, but we’ve seen the frequency of large-scale exploits and zero-days increase over the years.
Without the latest updates, you could be at risk from threats similar to Meltdown and Spectre, system file overwrites, and privilege escalations. Attacks can be distributed via emailed documents, torrent files, or compromised genuine software.
In today’s landscape, even Windows users with the best security practices can be at risk. Keeping your OS updated reduces the likelihood such attacks will be successful and can prevent bank fraud, ransomware, and more.
