To stay safe in Windows 10 from next October you’ll have to pay $61, then ‘double every consecutive year for a maximum of three years’

Windows 10 is, I’m afraid to say, not long for this world. While Microsoft has confirmed that the ageing OS will still receive free security updates until October 14, 2025, after that you’ll have to be part of the ESU, or “Extended Security Updates” program, and that costs money. Depending on your use case, that could be much more than you expected.

In a recent blog post, Microsoft listed out its plans for extended support, including the revelation that if you want to buy an activation key to enrol a Windows 10 device in the ESU, you’ll need to cough up $61 per device for year one (via The Register). If that figure seems steep, then prepare to hold on to your collective hats, as Microsoft has also announced that “the price will double every consecutive year for a maximum of three years”.