Tuesday, July 2nd 2024
0patch Offers Additional Windows 10 Security Updates, Extending Usage Until 2030
0patch plans to combat Microsoft's ending Windows 10 support by offering unofficial security updates for the 2015 operating system. Microsoft is ending Windows 10 security updates on October 14, 2025, after which the OS will stop receiving patches for vulnerabilities. The Redmond giant will provide you with an option to update your Windows 10 build, however, with a hefty fee slapped. Extended Security Updates (ESU) pricing structure follows a tiered model that doubles each year. From October 2025 to October 2026, the cost is $61 per device. The following year, from October 2026 to October 2027, the price increases to $122 per device. In the final year, spanning October 2027 to October 2028, the cost rises to $244 per device. For users planning to maintain Windows 10 until October 2028, the total expense over the three-year period would amount to $427 per device.
However, 0patch, a company focused on providing unofficial security updates for Windows OSes, will provide Windows 10 users with free and paid security updates post-end of service. Their system focuses on delivering targeted "micropatches" for critical vulnerabilities that emerge after Microsoft's official support ends. These micropatches are designed to be extremely precise and minimal, often consisting of just a few CPU instructions. A key feature of 0patch's approach is its non-invasive nature. The patches are applied directly to running processes in the computer's memory, leaving the original Microsoft files untouched. This method allows for rapid deployment of security fixes without requiring system reboots or interrupting user activities. The patching process is designed to be seamless and virtually unnoticeable to users. For instance, a user working on a document wouldn't experience any disruption while a micropatch is being applied. This approach is particularly beneficial for servers, where continuous uptime is crucial, as patches can be implemented without any downtime.
The free 0patch variant allows for fixes of zero-day vulnerabilities, while the company offers paid "Pro" and "Enterprise" versions for 24.95 EUR and 34.95 EUR, respectively. The pro version includes more patches besides zero-day vulnerabilities, while the enterprise version covers features like silent run, central management, group management, multiuser support, and user roles for managing many systems. The company plans to support the Windows 10 for five more years, until 2030, with a possible window for extension if there is demand.
Source:
0patch
However, 0patch, a company focused on providing unofficial security updates for Windows OSes, will provide Windows 10 users with free and paid security updates post-end of service. Their system focuses on delivering targeted "micropatches" for critical vulnerabilities that emerge after Microsoft's official support ends. These micropatches are designed to be extremely precise and minimal, often consisting of just a few CPU instructions. A key feature of 0patch's approach is its non-invasive nature. The patches are applied directly to running processes in the computer's memory, leaving the original Microsoft files untouched. This method allows for rapid deployment of security fixes without requiring system reboots or interrupting user activities. The patching process is designed to be seamless and virtually unnoticeable to users. For instance, a user working on a document wouldn't experience any disruption while a micropatch is being applied. This approach is particularly beneficial for servers, where continuous uptime is crucial, as patches can be implemented without any downtime.
33 Comments on 0patch Offers Additional Windows 10 Security Updates, Extending Usage Until 2030
See you in 2030, dhalsim.
Hard pass, I'll just pony up for the real, official updates that I can download, examine, & install at my choosing, thank you !
2. And with 0patch you can? Your point being? AFAIK Win10 still has a semi-annual channel.
0patch is selling system reliability 'because they said so'. Nice business model isn't it?! Do you want some bridges with your order?
WSUS Offline Update gets by doing what they do because they do not host any of the software, it's just a wget script to download the (public) updates and another script to deploy them. That, and it's free.
2. Im not saying that. Im saying "something" is always better than nothing - even if it's unofficial. We're talking here about 2028-2030 where MS supports end but 0patch support continues for two years after that.
MS is also selling system reliability and security on their word. Windows is a closed source operating system. There is no way for users to verify MS's claims of security. Windows 11 requires TPM. MS says it's for security reasons and for that we have only their word...
How can you check?
Also I still have these bridges for sale. You buying or what, it seems like you're my type of customerBut now there is actual code, an actual release, an actual build and actual functionality you can check. I mean, you're struggling to keep your argument afloat I get it, but THINK, please. Use that same critical look you have to compare MS to 0patch, vice versa and you know this ain't the same thing.
How can i check what? What any individual update does or contains? Well id say it's about as obscure as MS's own updates.
Also - jeez. God forbid someone offering unofficial support. Real bad guys there for sure. Is someone pointing a gun at your head forcing you to use 0patch?
What im saying is that running an unpatched and unsupported OS connected to the internet is about as sketchy as trusting unofficial updates.
The bottom line is, if you don't know, you don't know. What you DO know is that MS has a track record and a direct vested interest in keeping their OS secure. 0patch does not. So what it the latter goes under? Its a bloody start up. They're designed to go under, and maybe just maybe it'll amount to something more positive.
You're being way too naive about the supposed staying power of a business. Its exactly zero and can change daily. Track records matter. Everything else is a wild guess.
Im not gonna argue over business models here but obviously there are server costs.Correct. We are in agreement here.Only until the end of extended support. After that it's the wild west.What if the sun explodes during the next four years and we're all dead?
We're taking about past 10-2028. It's still over four years away. I very much doubt most people would use 0patch NOW where there's still years of official support left - paid or otherwise. And if it goes under then people lose ~30 bucks worth of unofficial support. Big deal.
Anyway, Win10 22H2 is viable until Oct 2025. Don't get your panties in a bunch, instead plan ahead if it's important and a priority.HKLM\Software\0patch, if they still use the same method since Windows 7.
MS have burned the ecosystem to the ground. There is no return for millions of people when the W10 hits EOL. Surely, there are many people, wanting and raising anything MS is throwing in, or at least are forced to use it as their working OS. But MS ecosystem has become atrocious toxic environment. I'm not even mentioning the amount of PCs unable to run the W11, due to hardware requirements.
This is sad, because MS still has huge treasure trove of experience, software and tools, that could othewise lead to an exceptionally well and user friendly products. But alas.
For many Linix is not an alternative, as software giants like Adobe aren't going to support it. But for regular entertainment, and web browsing it is completely fine.
Edit: It's always fine to expect something sketchy from a thrird party software. But this is horrible, to actually use the OS, which is intentionally filled with vulnerabilities, yt the OS maker itself. Just recently MS have patched the hole in Visual Studio. And this is the biggest problem. Windows is and always will be insecure platform, as it is has the massive adoption among the PC users. And any OS, that is popular, will deem the same destiny (Ubuntu, etc...). Thus MS themselves create these holes in their software for themselves and "security organisations", to later exploit it on full. And when the one vulnerability is being accidentally found, the MS will just make "Oopsie" and will go on with inventing even more tricky exploits.
Mac OS being restricted to Apple computers and Linux being... well, the nonsense it is, haven't helped things.
W11 just requires it more but running the scripts for the different OS'es takes the same amount of time for an end-user, so I don't see it as different.
People who are still using windows 10 should pay the ESU or switch to windows 11. Hardware requirements for 10 and 11 are the same minus the TPM which you can bypass, and W11 has no big differences with W10 UI wise.
The only good reason to stay on W10 is when companies have in house critical softwares which cant run on W11 which replacement is impossible or its cost would be far greater than paying the ESU.
Yep................Well, the local account thing for individual consumers if it becomes fully mandatory for W11 and or 12.