Still on Windows 10 in the EU?

1. Permanent, unpatched security holes

Every new flaw found in Windows 10 after the cutoff stays there.

That includes problems in the kernel, drivers, and built-in services.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre warns that unsupported products become easier to exploit over time, even for less skilled attackers.

2. Ransomware and malware

Older, unpatched systems are a common target for ransomware.

WannaCry spread through unpatched Windows machines in 2017 and hit more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries, including NHS hospitals.

An unsupported Windows 10 machine fits the same general pattern.

3. Browser and web-based attacks

Browsers still depend on the operating system underneath them.

If the OS is missing security fixes, a bad site or a compromised page can do more damage.

4. Password and identity theft

Older login and security components stay exposed when they are no longer updated.

That can make it easier to steal saved passwords, session tokens, and account access.

5. Security software slowly goes blind

Security tools do not stay equally effective forever on unsupported systems.

Over time, vendors reduce support, detection gets weaker, and some protections stop working as well as they used to.

6. Apps and drivers stop working

Software support fades too.

Browsers, banking tools, office apps, printers, and newer hardware gradually stop supporting older Windows versions.

7. Compliance and insurance problems

For businesses and self-employed people, this can become more than a technical issue.

Running an unsupported system may clash with GDPR security duties, PCI-DSS rules, or cyber-insurance terms.

8. No more official help

Microsoft support for Windows 10 has already ended.

If something breaks after support is over, there is no normal safety net left.