IC Experts Say Microsoft Removing Windows 10 Support Will Impact E-Waste Crisis

When Microsoft announced it was ending support for Windows 10 last week, about 40 percent of all Windows users faced limited options.

While some of those users can upgrade to Windows 11, hundreds of millions of devices don’t meet the technical requirements.

Those users might be wondering what else they can do besides throwing away their current device and buying a new one or risking running outdated software on it.

The tech conglomerate faced backlash from environmental and cybersecurity experts after informing Windows users that it would cease providing updates for Windows 10.

These experts have warned that rendering hundreds of millions of devices practically useless will worsen the ever-growing problem with electronic waste (e-waste) and leave users who can't upgrade vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.

Researchers from Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing (SIC) and School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP) echo those concerns.