I'm sure everyone has already heard this and I'll also post in the IT Short Bus, but a friendly reminder that support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025. Which will be here sooner than you think. I will probably remind you again. When it happens you have at least 6 options I think. You can...
1. Change to Windows 11...if your computer is capable, that is. Windows 11 has specific hardware requirements. Mine doesn't qualify in a BIG way.
2. Stick your head in the sand and pretend it won't affect you. The hackers will add you to their Christmas Card list if you go this route.
3. Buy a new computer which will have Win 11. You can always mail me your old one. I'll install Linux and donate it to somebody.
4. Billy Bob Gates won't provide free updates any longer but he'll sell them for an undetermined time period. He'll decide how long when he sees how much income this generates. And generate income it will because some business programs just won't work on Windows 11.
5. You can install a micropatch agent (like Opatch). Explaining this could be dangerous. You could doze off and bang your head on your desk at any moment. Basically it is a tiny bit of code which replaces a vulnerable area (of code) in some running applications. See? I caught you. Your eyes were already getting heavy and your head was nodding. Personally I don't think this is the answer you want anyhow so please don't hang your hat on it, but it is sort of an option.
6. Start learning about and using a Linux alternative. In my opinion the smartest of all options because it is free and hackers avoid it. Remember in Linux nobody can do anything unless you give them permission. I don't know about you, but I'm known to get pretty hard-headed when anyone wants permission to steal my stuff and pretend they're me. You have a few different alternatives with Linux. Think of it as ham-flavored lollipops. Odd, but when you get used to it not bad at all.
Puppy Linux is one of my favorites. I own an ancient Toshiba laptop which only has 2 gb of memory and uses (believe it or not) a Pentium 4 cpu as the processor. It was in the trash can at a company who owned my operation and I took it home. I had to purchase a power supply but I have used Puppy Linux on it since around 2009 and there isn't much I can't do with it. I can do word processing, create spreadsheets, store photos, use the internet, watch movies, listen to music, edit photos, do emails, see the Stovebolt site, buy stuff...what more do you need? Now for the surprise: I can do all of this without using a hard drive. A CD and a USB stick is all I need and I think there is a way to just use a USB stick.
