If you’re still stuck on the original Windows 10, which has now reached “end of service”, you’ll have to update soon or no more security updates.
In a world of rampant, rancid, revolting ransomware and malignant, malevolent and mutant malware attacking wholesome, worldly, worthy and even increasingly ever more “woke” Windows users, updating your operating system is important.
Of course, it doesn’t matter whether that OS is Windows, macOS, Linux, Android or something else, if there’s an update for it, updating to that new version is usually a very good idea.
That said, some updates can cause problems even though they’re supposed to fix them, so waiting a day or two or a week or two to see whether any reports of issues pop up or not, especially when you’re talking about major updates rather than the more minor ones can be a very good idea, too.
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It can depend on whether or not there’s some major malware outbreak happening now, or not, and it’s always important to make, keep and test your regularly run backups - especially before applying updates to an OS environment that is otherwise currently working wonderfully.
That way, you can always restore to a known good environment that’s working well should an update nuke things unexpectedly, so as always, fore-backed up is forearmed.
So, why the talk of Windows 10 getting set to prompt you to update?
Because of a new official blog post from Microsoft, entitled “Ensuring Windows 10 devices are up to date has never been more important.”
The post was written by the company’s own cable guy, John Cable, “unofficially the Director of getting you to damn well update your version of Windows,” whose official title is “Director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery.”
Cable gets wired and fired up reminding us all that “the most secure Windows device today is an updated one: running both the most recent feature update – the Windows 10 Creators Update – and the most recent monthly quality update.”
Presumably, the outbreak of ridiculously bad ransomware scandals of the past couple of months has prompted Microsoft to remind us all of the importance of updating, with Cable noting that “in each Windows feature update we build the latest security technology deep into the operating system, providing defense-in-depth features that prevent entire classes of malware from impacting your device.
“In each monthly quality update, we add another layer of security, one that tracks emerging and changing trends in malware to make up-to-date systems safer in the face of changing and evolving threats.”
Part of the problem here is that, even though Windows 10 was supposed to make updates automatic, there are still a lot of people stuck on the original version of Windows 10, which is now at its “end of service”.
Cable said: “While you can continue to use this version and your computer will still work, you will no longer receive the monthly quality updates that contain protection from the latest security threats.
“To remain secure your device should be updated to the latest feature update. We will start sending a notification if your device needs to be updated to the latest feature update. If you have trouble, try these helpful tips.”
For those stuck on older Windows 10 versions that aren’t updating properly, I can only hope the helpful tips work.
The tips are quite comprehensive, and should ensure that you can bust through problematic Windows 10 update worries, but even Microsoft notes to its own eternal damnation that if you’re still stick, you may well have to “perform a clean install of Windows,” in what is surely the least helpful customer service tip of all time, and one of the most end-user hostile.
That said, at least a complete clean installation will actually work to clear out problems and bugs, unless you’re running particularly nasty state-actor level malware, but for most people, such drastic action won’t be needed, and nor will such high-level malware be part of the problem.
Cable’s post is definitely worth reading in full - there’s information on why the latest Windows 10 Creators Update is worth updating to, along with the good-to-know info that you can choose to postpone what will end up being a forced update procedure up to five times, before a sixth prompt asks “for confirmation of your privacy settings”.
Cable notes that this “will only take a few moments for what we believe provides you with the best balance between privacy, security, and control.”
You won’t then be immediately forced to update, with Cable careful to note that “we are not changing the update experience itself.”
He adds that “Once your machine is ready to update to the Creators Update, you still have choice over when that update happens as I described earlier in my April blog.”
That “choice” ultimately extends to letting you “snooze” the update for a few days, and eventually postponing it to some after hours time when you’re not using your computer - presumably so you’re not forced to update in the middle of an important presentation - but you will eventually be forced to update so your Windows 10 stays updated - and keeps you safe.
There’s also a specific page at Microsoft that can help you to “Verify you’re updated” if you’d like to manually check that you’re running the most up-to-date Windows 10 OS.
Cable ends his blog post with the usual disingenuous corporate blah nobody ever believes even for half a second that “your privacy and security are important to us.”
He notes that Microsoft “will continue to evolve our approach in providing a great Windows experience,” and encourages its users to “share your feedback as we grow and improve,” pointing to Microsoft’s “Feedback Hub application” as being “a great way to do this.”
