Staying Safe Online · Updates & Antivirus · Lesson 4 of 5

Keeping an Older Computer Safe

What end of support means, and your choices for an older computer.

When the fixes stop

Makers don't update their systems forever. At some point they stop. This is called end of support.

After end of support, the computer still turns on and works. But no new safety fixes arrive. New security holes stay open. Over time, the computer gets riskier to use online.

This happened to Windows 10. Its support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer sends it regular updates.

To give people more time, Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates, or ESU. It is a program that keeps sending only the important safety fixes. It does not add new features.

For home computers, Microsoft says ESU now runs until October 12, 2027. You can join in a few ways:

• Free, if you sign in with a Microsoft account and let Windows back up your settings.
• By using 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
• By paying a one-time fee of about $30.

To join, open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. Look for a link to enroll in Extended Security Updates.

ESU is a bridge, not a forever fix. It buys you time to move to something newer.

Macs work in a similar way. Very old Macs stop getting the newest macOS. Apple's Software Update shows you what your Mac can still get.

Your choices for an older computer

If your computer runs Windows 10, you have a few choices. You can pick the one that fits you.

1. Upgrade to Windows 11. It is free if your computer can run it. Open Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. It will tell you if your computer is ready.
2. Join ESU. This keeps safety fixes coming for now, if Windows 11 can't run on your computer.
3. Get a newer computer. This is the longest fix. Move your files over before you give the old one away.
4. Use it carefully. If none of these work for you yet, be extra careful with it.

Using an older computer carefully means:

• Keep your web browser updated. Chrome and Edge still send updates to Windows 10 for now. Close and reopen the browser to finish them.
• Keep Windows Security turned on.
• Don't download programs you don't need.
• Do your banking on a newer device, like an updated phone, if you can.
• Back up your photos and files.

On an old Mac that no longer gets updates, the same careful habits help. Keep Safari or your other browser as up to date as it allows.

Don't feel bad if your computer is old. Lots of people use older computers. A few steps keep you much safer.