Updated August 6 with new key-logging warnings for Windows users.
Microsoft is urging hundreds of millions of its Windows users to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 before October 14, 2025, when support ends. A recent warning from the US government highlights a vulnerability in Microsoft COM for Windows that allows remote code execution and privilege escalation. Users have until August 26 to patch or stop using affected systems.
The vulnerability, CVE-2018-0824, was first identified in 2018 but has been added to the Exploited Vulnerability (KEV) catalog. A Chinese hacking group may have exploited it as part of an attack on a government research center in Taiwan.
Additionally, Microsoft is warning users about SnakeKeyLogger, a keylogger that can steal credentials and take screenshots. It targets Windows users via malicious downloads and phishing campaigns.
The main challenge for many Windows 10 users is not the vulnerability itself but the need to upgrade their hardware to run Windows 11, which may lead to resentful purchases.
Despite some growth in Windows 11 adoption, more than twice as many Microsoft Windows users are still using Windows 10. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue or if there will be a surge of upgrades before the end-of-life date.
In the meantime, Microsoft is expected to face criticism and pressure from users who want an extension to Windows 10 support. As the deadline approaches, hackers may take advantage of the situation, mailing out scams targeting worried Windows 10 users.
[/SY[S]>
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2024/08/06/microsoft-warning-for-14-billion-windows-10-users-windows-11-free-upgrade/