In a more reasonable world they’d owe their customers a recall.
Untrue.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/05/linux-to-end-support...
I tend to play around with old machines (late 80s, early 90s mostly) and getting any kind of modern-ish distro working on old machines, even distros really cut down, can be quite challenging.
Aren't we just trying to do to much and releasing defective software. Why is it accepted?
As a response to the kernel's various SNAFUs, I've gone ahead and refunded to myself all of the money I've spent on Linux kernels over the past several decades -- and updated my install to the new version for free.
1) there’s no implied warranty of merchantability with the hobbyist system
2) the “business model” (such as it is) of open source doesn’t push distros to hide security updates behind a pathway
3) generally Linux is usually getting better so I want to update anyway
A well configured firewall between your computer and the internet, uBlock Origin in the browser, and not downloading untrusted files off the internet can do a long way to help. Not stopping everything but at least shielding you from the worst.
I think the bigger issue is like on iPhones and Androids. Your software and apps stop supporting your OS long before the hardware or OS fails you.
Which from what I understand is that even Windows 11 still has support for SMBv1.
But my point was that your standard “up to date” XP install in 2016 was highly vulnerable and could effectively be nuked by such an attack. It took nearly 7 years after support ended for that to happen. So you could theoretically get another 7 years out of Windows 10 before a similar situation happens where a global cyberattack negatively impacts you with no way to protect yourself because your OS doesn’t support a configuration that would prevent you from being a victim.
Btw I do have a spare PC, it only got Win10 because the GPU didn't support 7, and it's not getting 11 even though it supports it. Microsoft's job to keep that secure.
It is definitely possible to heavily lockdown a Windows computer to prevent 99% of attacks and if you don’t need WAN access especially that becomes significantly easier.
It is far more likely browsers will drop support for 10 in a few years and that will be what stops the average user from being able to continue to use their Windows 10 computer.