Last month, security researcher Chaotic Eclipse (better known as Nightmare-Eclipse) managed to bypass Windows 11's sophisticated BitLocker security feature using a USB stick. Nightmare claimed that Microsoft "intentionally" left a backdoor in the security feature:

"Could have made some insane cash selling this, but no amount of money will stand between me and my determination against Microsoft." The company has since patched three zero-day exploits published by the security researcher, including YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma.

More recently, Nightmare-Eclipse disclosed a new zero-day vulnerability dubbed RoguePlanet, which affects Microsoft Defender on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. The exploit could allow attackers to gain full control of affected systems (via Bleeping Computer).

Microsoft acknowledged the vulnerability and indicated that it's tracking the RoguePlanet zero-day exploit under CVE-2026-50656. According to the company:

"Microsoft is aware of an elevation of privilege in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine in Microsoft Defender publicly referred to as "RoguePlanet ". We are working to provide a high quality security update that addresses this vulnerability. We will provide information in this CVE when the update is available."

The security sleuth shared a proof-of-concept exploit in a self-hosted Git repository, further claiming that Microsoft had scrapped its repository hosting exploits on GitHub and GitLab.

Perhaps more interestingly, this news comes after Microsoft previously fronted Windows 11’s Defender as enough for most PC owners. "Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risks without requiring additional software,” the company added.

The statement seemed highly debatable in the community, though many still agreed with Microsoft's sentiments, including some of Windows Central's readers:

"It's not a secret, Windows Defender has been the best or near the best antivirus for years by now. Times when third-party antivirus actually served a purpose are long gone. You're just slowing down your system and paying for no reason."

In a subsequent blog post, Microsoft admitted that while Windows 11's Defender is usually enough for most users, third‑party tools add extra layers of protection, including identity monitoring or built-in VPNs.

Elsewhere, Nightmare-Eclipse and Microsoft had been locked in a months-long battle, with Microsoft even threatening legal action. But after backlash from the wider cybersecurity community, the company signaled it no longer intends to pursue lawsuits against researchers who conduct or publish their findings.

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"Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches," indicated former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in 2001. At the time, the executive considered Linux users to be communist thieves and viewed the open-source operating system as a "malignant cancer" on Microsoft's intellectual property.

In 2016, Ballmer seemingly changed his stance on Linux after Microsoft ported its SQL Server to Linux. He didn't redact his statement about Linux as he saw fit at the time. The executive revealed that going to war with open-source helped generate a ton of money, which greatly contributed to Microsoft's revenue.

Interestingly, he believed the threat from Linux had passed. The executive said he loved the SQL on Linux announcement, so much so that he emailed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to congratulate him on the move.

In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted that the company had been on the wrong side of history when open source exploded. "The good news is that, if life is long enough, you can learn … that you need to change," Smith added.

Consequently, Microsoft has seemingly warmed up to open-source over the years, from PowerShell to Visual Studio Code to Microsoft Edge's JavaScript engine. And perhaps more recently, the company unveiled its own Linux distribution, Azure Linux 4.0, to the public.

It's worth noting that Azure Linux 4.0 isn't new; Microsoft has been running the open-source Linux distro across its infrastructure for years now. The only difference is that the platform is now expanding into broader server workloads. The operating system is built on Fedora and runs on Azure virtual machines.

The RAM crisis, mounting AI bloat, and Windows 10's death are all tipping the scales in Linux's favor

While this might seem like a stretch, it's increasingly becoming difficult for users to upgrade to Windows 11. Critics have referred to Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 as programmed obsolescence, designed to force working hardware into early retirement.

Groups like the public interest research group (PIRG) have petitioned Microsoft to reconsider its decision and extend Windows 10 support, citing the potential for the single biggest jump in junked computers (up to 400 million PCs).

Microsoft didn't necessarily leave Windows 10 users in the lurch when it ended support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. It extended support for an additional year through its extended security updates (ESU) program to October 14, 2026, though critics claimed it felt like a last-minute snooze button, only a band-aid on a bleeding system.

More recently, the company extended support for Windows 10 through its ESU program through 2027. It didn't disclose the reason for extending Windows 10 support, but recent events can offer a vague picture of some possibilities.

The rising cost of RAM and NAND, primarily driven through the roof by AI's insatiable appetite for computing power, has made it difficult for users to buy new hardware. In that sense, it's practically impossible for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 because their devices don't meet Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements.

There's also the argument of flawed Windows 11 design elements. However, Microsoft already started addressing some of these issues as part of its broader Windows K2 initiative. The company has already started reducing the places where Copilot and its integrations appear across the operating system.

Groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end of support. The campaign encourages Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system. As such, there's a chance the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 could roll over into 2027 and even 2028, especially after Microsoft's new lifeline for the OS.

I recently polled Windows Central readers about the current state of affairs and whether they plan to upgrade to Windows 11. Out of 321 participants, 68% (217 readers) said they intend to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.

According to a Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box."

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that, while it may sound far-fetched, Windows 10 holdouts could abandon Microsoft’s ecosystem in favor of open-source alternatives like Linux — especially if the RAM crisis continues to spiral out of control.

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Last week, Microsoft quietly announced that it will extend support for Windows 10 through 2027, even though the operating system officially reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. Initially, the company had planned to offer just one additional year of updates under its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but the new decision gives Windows 10 a longer lifeline.

However, critics and groups like The Restart Project, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

They argued that the move would force up to 400 million working PCs into early retirement, prompting many users to brand it as programmed obsolescence rather than anything else. It also seems like an outright, blatant attempt designed to make users transition to Windows 11.

However, if previous complaints lodged are anything to go by — Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements for the operating system, coupled with arguments of flawed design elements, including unnecessary AI and Copilot integrations, will only widen the digital divide, making the jump even harder.

Currently, users enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will continue receiving critical security patches for one additional year, extending coverage beyond the original end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, through October 14, 2026.

Windows 10

As highlighted in the poll results, a clear majority of participants (68%) indicated they plan to continue running Windows 10 on their devices following Microsoft’s support extension. Interestingly, 19% of respondents said they have already upgraded to Windows 11, highlighting a smaller but notable shift toward the newer operating system.

Granted, only 321 people voted, so we need to take the results with a pinch of salt.

If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the extended lifeline by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

Last week, I wrote an article attempting to capture the overall sentiment from the community and tech enthusiasts following Microsoft's decision to extend support for Windows 10 through 2027. It quickly became apparent to me that many people are still running Windows 10 on their devices, with some outrightly calling for Microsoft to extend Windows 10's shelf life to 2028 because 2027 won't cut it.

The conversation about alternative operating systems like Linux also popped up. According to an avid Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box.

Though frankly I'm surprised MS cares so much. corporate world has been their sole focus for over a decade, and they still have a good stranglehold there. ofc one piece of wisdom might be that if people use Linux at home, eventually they'll start asking why we are using MS products at work. We are used to Linux and more competent with apps there."

"What they are admitting is that they are afraid of letting part the 25% Windows base go for Linux or worse, to become botnets for cybercrime after they get infected for lack of security patches, creating havoc," another reader added.

Some users came up with interesting ideas, painting a picture where Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 and Windows 11 simultaneously.

While it seems inevitable for users to eventually upgrade to Windows 11, the current RAM crisis due to AI's heavy appetite for computing power isn't making the jump any easier, as hardware prices are steadily increasing and becoming unaffordable for most people. According to another Windows Central reader:

"That people don't have the money to upgrade at today's prices.

Let's not make too much of this: MS OSes have always run a bit ahead of entry level hardware and conversely, people have always stayed with trailing edge software longer than safe. There are probably still people running Windows XP out there.

The security rationale of W11 over W10 can be debated but in the end, everybody will have to upgrade the hardware...

...when they can afford it. At least MS is being understanding that it's not just parsimony holding people back."

That said, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft will continue to hold its massive dominance in the desktop landscape with Windows.

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In recent months, Microsoft has taken significant steps to improve the Windows 11 user experience through its Windows K2 initiative, including scaling back where Copilot and its integrations appear across the interface.

And now, these efforts appear to have extended to Microsoft Edge. As spotted by Neowin, Microsoft has decided to discontinue its AI-powered history search feature in the Chromium-based browser

"Enhanced search finds sites in your History even when you use a synonym, phrase, or typo," Microsoft added. "After this feature is turned on, sites you visit will be shown in enhanced history search results. An on-device model is trained using your data, which never leaves your device and is never sent to Microsoft. Admins can use the EdgeHistoryAISearchEnabled policy to disable this feature."

Microsoft promised that the feature would leverage on-device AI, keeping your data private, secure, and away from the cloud. It's worth noting that the feature was rolling out to users in waves.

The company has since made an update on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap entry (dated June 25, 2026), indicating:

"We have decided not to move forward with this change at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Neowin reported that many users described the feature as "creepy," while others voiced concerns about trusting Microsoft to keep their data on-device. Some also criticized it as yet another attempt to turn Edge into bloatware.

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On October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, despite widespread pleas from millions of users still relying on the operating system. The move risked leaving nearly 400 million PCs without updates, effectively rendering them obsolete. However, Microsoft ultimately extended Windows 10’s lifespan through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, giving users continued access to critical patches beyond the end-of-support date.

The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claimed that Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

It's no secret that Microsoft has been pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11, but soaring RAM prices have driven hardware costs sky-high, making the transition even more difficult. This is on top of the operating system's strict hardware requirements and arguments of flawed design elements.

In France, critics even staged a symbolic “funeral” for Windows 10, protesting Microsoft’s push toward Windows 11 and what they see as planned obsolescence. Yet, as recent developments suggest, the company may finally be listening.

Microsoft quietly extended Windows 10's ESU program by another year. As a result, users enrolled in the program will continue receiving support until October 14, 2027. The extension is free for those who sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, ensuring critical updates remain available beyond the original cutoff.

What does the community think about Windows 10's extended lifeline?

"People might start switching to Linux and using open source software for replacements if this RAM/storage issue doesn't get resolved in the next year," a Windows Central reader indicated.

Groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end-of-life. The campaign encourages steadfast Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

"I said a year ago that this was going to happen, and I'll say it again, it's going to happen next year too," another reader added. "Windows 10 will be supported till October 2028. This has nothing to do with prices. This was planned since the beginning. But like last year, Microsoft did not say until late this was happening for free, so that people did not plan accordingly and as many as possible move to 11. Same this time. Same next year."

"Windows 10 to Windows 11 is like when you need new running shoes, but Nike discontinued the kind you’ve been buying new versions of for years, and the other kinds are fine but don’t measure up," another user commented in the r/technology subreddit on Reddit. "So you’re like “f*** it, I’ll just wear these until they fall apart.”

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even roll over into 2026.

Some even claimed that Microsoft's decision to extend Windows 10's support beyond 2026 is an outright admission that it's better than Windows 11. "So are they finally admitting that Windows 11 isn't good enough almost 5 years later?"

To that end, it remains unclear how Microsoft extending support for Windows 10 via its ESU program to 2027 will impact Windows 11's market share. The operating system had just started gaining some momentum and even surpassed Windows 10 as the most dominant desktop operating system in the world in July, 2025.

In the interim, you can take advantage of Microsoft's extended support for Windows 10 by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

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Over the past few years, we've seen generative AI cement its footprint in the workplace and even take over redundant, repetitive tasks entirely. Last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claimed that AI was on the verge of slashing up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs, making it harder for Gen Z to enter the job market.

Even Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, recently cleared up the intent of his statement that AI would eliminate white‑collar jobs in less than 18 months. The executive indicated that the statement was blown out of proportion, further clarifying that he meant AI would augment repetitive, mundane tasks — not replace humans.

In 2025, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates indicated that AI would replace humans for most things. However, the philanthropic billionaire claimed that it'd be mostly up to humans to decide how they interact with the next-gen technology.

The executive previously indicated that biologists, energy workers, and coders would survive the AI revolution, citing that their complex nature constantly requires human intervention.

Incidentally, Gates may have just identified a fourth profession that could be safe from AI replacement — athletes. During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he suggested that while AI might take over many human tasks, no one would want to watch computers playing baseball (via LADbible Group).

With that in mind, it’s safe to say we’ll continue to savor the moments when our favorite players like Arsenal’s right winger Bukayo Saka grace the pitch with their talent and keep us entertained, even now during the World Cup season.

As AI gains broad adoption and becomes more prevalent, it will undoubtedly reshape how we work or even redefine what the term means. Last year, a study by Microsoft Research highlighted 40 job roles that are at risk of extinction in the age of AI, including customer service representatives, interpreters, technical writers, editors, web developers, and more.

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Microsoft and OpenAI are no strangers in the corridors of justice, particularly when it comes to copyright infringement disputes. It is well established that advanced AI models such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT rely heavily on vast amounts of online content, including material from outlets like Windows Central, for training purposes.

In court proceedings, Microsoft and OpenAI have consistently argued that copyright law does not explicitly prohibit the use of online content to train AI models. However, with Google racing ahead by embedding AI directly into search, the industry finds itself at a tipping point. As traditional outlets struggle to compete, many are shutting down, leaving thousands of experienced journalists in the lurch.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has openly acknowledged that building tools like ChatGPT would be virtually impossible without relying on copyrighted material. That admission now looms large as a coalition of publishers, representing nearly 400 newspapers, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accusing them of copyright infringement (via Bloomberg).

The complaint indicates that the two companies are unlawfully using their content to develop and train the AI chatbots without consent or compensation. According to the complaint:

"Defendants systematically and secretly crawled the Publishers’ websites—including content behind paywalls and other access restrictions—and copied the Publishers’ articles, stories, and other original works onto their own servers without authorization."

The publishers argue that the companies have generated billions from stealing their work and have not paid a dime for it. They are now seeking statutory damages and injunctive relief, citing copyright infringement and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Speaking to Bloomberg, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri indicated:

“Our models empower innovation, are trained on publicly available data, and are grounded in fair use."

“It would be inequitable if at the end of this you have a resolution that only benefits the largest players in the marketplace and not the people who are doing hard work reporting on things that frankly very few outlets still cover in America today,” former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin added.

The publishers argue that the AI revolution could be a "death knell for local journalism" if these AI firms aren't held accountable and continue to steal content without compensation.

Elsewhere, a separate 2024 report suggests that AI companies, including Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, had hit a wall due to a lack of high-quality content for training, which prevented them from developing advanced AI models.

This opens up a broader discussion about the future of AI models if Google is hell-bent on integrating AI into search, after it has practically run every publication into the ground.

The dead internet theory, in particular, comes to mind. It suggests that prolonged exposure of large language models to low-quality training data negatively impacts accuracy, comprehension, and thought process. What's worse is that the phenomenon could only be less than 3 years away if recent studies are anything to go by.

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warned that AI must demonstrate real‑world value or risk losing public support. His comments came amid mounting community backlash over the technology’s heavy demand for electricity and cooling water to power data centers, although Microsoft and NVIDIA have seemingly found a fix.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal recently, Nadella echoed his earlier stance, stressing that leading players in the AI industry must advance the technology in ways that deliver the greatest public benefit.

There’s growing concern around AI, particularly when it comes to security, privacy, and even its impact on jobs. "You can't say, hey, all white-collar jobs are gone and this could even be a weapon, and we will use all the power to build data centers," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted.

Perhaps more interestingly, the executive called out key investors in the AI landscape who see the technology primarily as a tool to cut jobs and reduce operational costs. He indicated that this would be the wrong way to look at the technology.

Instead, he recommended that AI should be viewed as a tool designed to help skilled workers better leverage their capabilities. He further painted a picture where AI tools and human capital co-exist in the same space, a phenomenon he referred to as "token capital."

While the executive claimed that it'd be a recipe for how companies can leverage both AI and workers simultaneously, he admitted that: "it's a lot of change management, it's a lot of displacement, but there is a path."

Nadella indicated that leveraging AI and humans at the same time at work can create a "continuous learning system." He indicated that companies in the future could be characterized by the "tacit knowledge that they contain from both sources."

The executive acknowledged that the idea might face public resistance but emphasized that it would be up to corporations to convince people of the economic opportunities AI could unlock in the future.

Over the past few years, key investors and leaders in the AI landscape have shared several theories, highlighting how the technology could reshape work. Last year, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claimed that AI was on the verge of slashing up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs, making it harder for the next generation to enter the job market.

Interestingly, Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, recently cleared up the intent of his statement that AI would eliminate white‑collar jobs in less than 18 months.

The executive indicated that his statement was widely misconstrued. Rather than replacing humans entirely from work, he indicated that AI would be used to augment repetitive and mundane tasks.

At the same time, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wants AI agents to be treated like human employees. It'll be interesting to see how AI is adopted in the workplace, and whether organizations choose to view the technology as a supplement rather than a replacement for the workforce.

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Generative AI has made a significant impact across education, computing, medicine, entertainment, and more. However, all that progress comes with a hefty price tag. The amount of electricity these systems burn through, plus the insane amounts of water needed to keep them cool, is honestly outrageous.

For context, Microsoft and Google's electricity consumption in 2024 surpassed the power usage of over 100 countries. Similarly, OpenAI's GPT-4 AI model consumes up to 3 water bottles to generate 100 words.

Earlier this month, Microsoft shared an interesting concept that may potentially address the water concerns riddling the progression and advancement of AI. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that the tech giant uses a liquid loop in its data centers, which is filled once. As a result, the company's data centers' water consumption has reduced significantly, down to "what a single restaurant would use."

And now it looks like NVIDIA is taking a page from Microsoft’s playbook. Speaking at London Climate Week on Monday, a top executive suggested that water concerns tied to data center development could be addressed through the company's next-generation AI infrastructure.

The executive further disclosed that the company's new next-gen AI infrastructure can be fully cooled with a liquid warm enough to alleviate the need for additional chilling equipment (Axios).

According to NVIDIA's Chief Sustainability Officer, Josh Parker:

"The water consumption challenge for data centers is largely solved."

How does this liquid work? It’s basically a recirculated mix of water and propylene — think automotive antifreeze. It’s worth noting that the system can operate at temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

As such, this allows it to function reliably in hotter environments compared to older systems. In practical terms, data centers equipped with NVIDIA’s next-generation AI infrastructure will require significantly less water and energy for cooling, reducing both operational costs and environmental impact.

This announcement comes at a time when concerns over water and energy use are mounting, as data centers continue to expand into community corridors. Microsoft has seemingly embraced the "Community-First" AI infrastructure, which addresses some of the issues raised by communities themselves, including reducing its water consumption and promising not to increase electricity bills.

Elsewhere, Microsoft’s plan to build a $1 billion data center in Kenya came to an abrupt halt in early May after the government declined to commit to covering the annual capacity costs Microsoft had requested to run Azure in the region. President William Ruto remarked that the facility’s power demands would be so immense that it would effectively require “switching off half the country” to keep it operational.

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