Users still running the first version of Windows 10 are encouraged to update

Although hard to believe, Windows 10 saw its first public release almost two years ago to date. Since then, the OS has been through three major updates – with a planned “Fall Creators Update” coming later this year. In a recent blog post, John Cable, Director of Program Management for Windows Servicing and Delivery, announced that users still running the initial version of Windows 10 (version 1507) will begin receiving desktop notifications prompting them to update their OS. Cable explained that since version 1507 has entered its “end-of-life”, users will no longer receive “the monthly quality updates that contain protection from the latest security threats”.

In the wake of the havoc wrought by recent ransomware attacks like NotPetya and WannaCry, Microsoft has an active interest in making sure its user base stays up-to-date and protected from future cyberattacks looking to exploit weaknesses within the company’s ubiquitous OS. With Cable’s announcement, it is clear that the company aims to give its users that nudge to update.

The latest version of Windows 10, version 1703 (more commonly known as the “Creators Update”), was rolled out in April of this year. While Microsoft releases monthly quality updates to protect its users against ever-changing threats to security, the more substantial “feature” updates also contain major security technologies and “defense-in-depth features”. Despite this, an article in Ars Technica reported that, as of late-April, only 10% of users had updated their version of Windows version 1703. By sending out desktop notifications, Microsoft hopes to spur users still running the earliest version of Windows 10 to take the plunge and update.

For those already running the latest version of Windows 10, Microsoft encourages its users to review their privacy settings in preparation for the Fall Creators Update – a preview of which is already available to Windows Insiders. If you have not done so already, it is probably wise to heed Microsoft's words and update as soon as possible.

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