Microsoft’s decision to stop supporting Windows 10 has sparked major concerns among environmental and cybersecurity experts.
The company recently announced that it will end updates for Windows 10, leaving about 40% of all Windows users with few good options.
While some people can upgrade to Windows 11, hundreds of millions of computers cannot because they don’t meet the technical requirements.
That means many users may either have to throw away working devices and buy new ones or continue using outdated and unsafe systems.
Experts say this move could lead to a huge increase in electronic waste—known as e-waste—and leave millions of people exposed to cyberattacks.
Researchers from Georgia Tech warn that as many as 240 million old computers could end up in landfills.
Cindy Lin, a professor at Georgia Tech, explained that this issue is tied to “planned obsolescence.” This means that companies design products to have a short life span so that people are forced to buy new ones. “These technologies are made to become obsolete quickly,” Lin said. “That increases both consumption and waste.”
When e-waste is dumped, the materials inside can break down and release methane, a strong greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. At the same time, producing new computers requires mining, refining, and processing raw materials, all of which use large amounts of fossil fuels and energy.
The environmental impact isn’t the only concern. Cybersecurity experts warn that when Microsoft stops sending security updates, users who still run Windows 10 will become easy targets for hackers.
Mustaque Ahamad, a cybersecurity professor at Georgia Tech, said that new security flaws in Windows 10 will remain unpatched, leaving users vulnerable. “Hackers will take advantage of these weaknesses, leading to more ransomware and data theft,” he said.
For people who can’t afford to buy a new computer, there may still be hope. Josiah Hester, another Georgia Tech professor, suggests installing Linux Mint, a free, open-source operating system that works well on older machines. “So much perfectly good hardware is being thrown away by force,” he said. “Linux Mint gives these computers a second life.”
Linux Mint comes with built-in security and its own software, including a word processor. It only needs 2GB of memory and 20GB of storage, making it suitable for many older computers.
Experts also say users can help by supporting the “right to repair” movement, which promotes making devices easier to fix and last longer. Lin said that encouraging repair culture and passing laws against planned obsolescence could make technology more sustainable.
Source: Georgia Institute of Technology.
