​Microsoft has announced that starting on October 14, 2025, they will no longer provide free support and security updates for Windows 10. 
 
While the idea of paying for updates might raise some eyebrows, let's put this into perspective. By 2025, Windows 10 will be a decade old, and Microsoft is likely to have introduced Windows 12. And as we know, Windows 11 is available today.
 
Supporting multiple old operating systems can be quite a handful, even for a tech giant like Microsoft.
 
2025 may seem like a way off, but it’s a good idea to start weighing up your options now. Here they are:
 
Option 1: Upgrade to Windows 11 
Microsoft's preferred option is for you to switch to Windows 11. It's got some fantastic features and free updates until its end of life. 
 
Option 2: Stick with Windows 10 and pay 
You can choose to stay with Windows 10, but you'll need to pay for security updates (no new features, though). The exact cost isn't known yet. It'll likely be a subscription for monthly updates. 
 
Option 3: Stick with Windows 10 and don’t update it
Sure, you can continue using Windows 10 without paying, but this isn't advisable. Without updates, your business’s PCs will become vulnerable to threats and security issues. And without Microsoft’s support to fix problems, even tech experts like us have nowhere to go for help. Please don’t take this option!
 
 
You've got until October 2025 to decide, so there’s no rush. But if you want your business to thrive this year, we’d highly recommend upgrading to Windows 11 sooner than later. You’ll immediately benefit from some features that could improve your processes and make your team’s jobs easier.  
 
If you're considering the move to Windows 11, or exploring other options, we're here to help make the transition smooth and hassle-free. Get in touch.

​Google has unleashed a powerful new tool to make your Gmail inbox a safer and spam-free haven, and it's called RETVec.
 
But what exactly is RETVec? 
 
Well, let's break it down in simple terms. RETVec stands for Resilient and Efficient Text Vectorizer. Fancy. In plain English, it's a tool that makes Gmail even better at spotting annoying spam emails that try to sneak into your inbox.
 
Did you know that the people behind spam emails can be very smart to try to avoid detection? Some use invisible characters, something called LEET substitution (like "3xpl4in3d" instead of "explained"), and intentional typos to get past our defenses. But RETVec is trained to be resilient against all these tricks.
 
Google explains it as mapping words or phrases to real numbers and then using these numbers for further analysis, predictions, and figuring out word similarities. In short, it's like giving Gmail a supercharged spam radar. 
 
How does this benefit you? Gmail's spam detection rate shot up by an impressive 38% with RETVec on the scene. Plus, Gmail's false positive rate dropped by nearly a fifth (that's 19.4% fewer false alarms). 
 
I know that some of you might be wondering if there’s a catch. Well, there's a tiny caveat you should be aware of, especially if your business sends promotional emails. 
 
With RETVec's increased vigilance, some legitimate emails might get caught in the crossfire. It's a good idea to keep an eye on your email analytics to ensure your messages reach their intended recipients.
 
RETVec isn't just about better security. It's more efficient too. Google reports that the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) usage of the model dropped by a whopping 83%. Smaller models mean reduced computational costs and faster delivery, which is a game-changer for large-scale applications and on-device models. So, it's a win-win situation.
 
Spam is a go-to weapon for cyber criminals and now RETVec can help keep us better protected. It blocks malicious emails, keeping our data safe and our inboxes clutter-free.
 
If you don’t use Gmail, don’t feel too left out. It’s likely we’ll see other email providers including Microsoft bringing similar protection in the future. 
 
In the meantime, if you’d like us to review your business’s email security, get in touch.