Latest news with #ESU
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Newly promoted detective will wear same shield number as 9/11 hero dad
A newly promoted Big Apple detective — who has the same job as his 9/11 hero dad — will now wear his father's identical shield number, decades after it was retired. Joe Vigiano, 32, of the NYPD's elite Emergency Service Unit, sported shield number 4511 at a promotions ceremony Friday — years after his father, Joseph Vigiano, died wearing it while rescuing those trapped in the World Trade Center. 'Now I have the privilege of wearing my dad's shield number,' a beaming Joe Vigiano told The Post. 4 Joe Vigiano, 32, surrounded by his proud family at a promotions ceremony. Matthew McDermott Vigiano was 8 years old when his father, a detective with ESU's Truck 2 on Sept. 11, 2011, never returned home. His dad's FDNY brother John also perished in the terrorist attack. Joseph Vigiano and his widow, Kathy, met while the pair worked in Brooklyn's 75th Precinct. 'He went to work and never came home,' Kathy, a retired cop, said about her beloved husband. 4 Joe Vigiano wearing his hero dad's shield number. Matthew McDermott 'Now, my son Joe wears his father's detective shield and does the same job his father did.' Joe said he was inspired to follow his father's footsteps after ESU members helped the shattered family grieve after the devastating attacks. 4 Joe Vigiano poses for a photo with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a promotions ceremony. Matthew McDermott 'It was definitely the camaraderie I saw with the passing of my father,' he said. 'After my dad passed away, it was definitely the men and women of the 75th Precinct and the Emergency Service Unit that took my family in.' Joe joined the department eight years ago and has worked out of Brooklyn's Emergency Truck 7 — where his dad started out. His brother John is in the Marines. While his other one, James, also works in the NYPD. 4 Brothers Joseph and John Vigiano died in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. Copyphoto Last year, the cop brothers saved a man in Brooklyn after he was shot in the chest. At the ceremony, Joe was surrounded by his proud family including his mom, wife Jenny and 3-year-old son Joseph, who is named after his brave grandfather. Asked how his dad would feel about his ascent in the department, Joe said, 'I'm sure he would be proud.' 'More importantly, I think he would be proud of my family, my wife and son. They're great'
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
Think you have to upgrade to Windows 11? These 3 alternatives for Windows 10 might surprise you
Windows 10 support is ending on 14 October 2025, and millions of users are now considering their next steps. Many prefer Windows 10 for its familiarity, or their computers may not meet the requirements for Windows 11. If you want to keep your PC secure without moving to Windows 11, Microsoft now offers several options tailored for Indian users. Microsoft is launching the Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme for Windows 10, which allows users to continue receiving critical security updates for at least one more year after official support ends. This is the first time the ESU is available to individual users, not just businesses. There are three ways to enrol in ESU in India: Pay the ESU Fee: You can pay an annual fee of $30, which is about ₹ 2,600. The payment process is simple and will be available through an enrolment wizard in your Windows 10 Settings or Notifications menu. Microsoft plans to roll out this feature to all users by August 2025. You can pay an annual fee of $30, which is about 2,600. The payment process is simple and will be available through an enrolment wizard in your Windows 10 Settings or Notifications menu. Microsoft plans to roll out this feature to all users by August 2025. Redeem Microsoft Rewards Points: If you use Microsoft services like Bing search or Xbox, you might have accumulated Microsoft Rewards points. You can use 1,000 points to get one year of ESU at no extra cash cost. Points can be checked and redeemed through your Microsoft account. If you use Microsoft services like Bing search or Xbox, you might have accumulated Microsoft Rewards points. You can use 1,000 points to get one year of ESU at no extra cash cost. Points can be checked and redeemed through your Microsoft account. Sign up for Windows Backup: The most affordable option is to use the Windows Backup app to back up your settings and files to Microsoft's OneDrive. Every Microsoft account comes with 5GB of free OneDrive storage. If you need more space, paid plans start at ₹ 140 per month. By enabling backup, you can get a free year of ESU, but your data will be stored on Microsoft's cloud servers. The ESU programme will keep your Windows 10 PC protected with critical updates until October 2026. After that, Microsoft has not confirmed if further updates will be available for home users. If you do not wish to pay for ESU or use Microsoft's backup service, you can install a free Linux operating system on your PC. Modern Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Linux Mint are easy to use and work well on older hardware. This option keeps your device secure and up to date, with no extra cost. Another way to reduce risk is to use your Windows 10 PC offline, especially for tasks like document editing, media playback, or running older software. Disconnecting from the internet limits exposure to new threats. For sensitive tasks or online banking, use a device that receives regular updates. Microsoft's official price for individual users is $30 per year, which is about ₹ 2,600. This price is confirmed in Microsoft's documentation. 2,600. This price is confirmed in Microsoft's documentation. The Windows Backup option for free ESU requires using OneDrive. Every Microsoft account includes 5GB free storage. If you need more, paid plans start at ₹ 140/month in India. 140/month in India. Microsoft Rewards points can be earned by using Bing, Microsoft Edge, and Xbox services. You can redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points for a year of ESU, as confirmed by Microsoft. Microsoft has announced the ESU enrolment wizard will roll out globally, including India, by August 2025. After October 2026, there is no guarantee that updates will continue for home users. Microsoft only guarantees ESU updates for one year (until October 2026) for individual users. There is no confirmation of further extensions for home users.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Windows 10 support lives on – but only if you give Microsoft something in return
Microsoft is now making Windows 10's extended security updates (ESU) program free. But there's a catch: you need to sync your PC settings data to the cloud via a Microsoft Account, using the new Windows Backup app, to benefit from this offer. Mainstream support for the beloved Windows 10 ends on October 14 this year. However, many people are still rocking Windows 10, disliking Windows 11, and on top of it all, Windows 11 is one demanding (and very hardware-intensive) OS to install. So, Microsoft is now making it easy to remain supported even if your PC or laptop is running Windows 10 via security updates until October 2026 for free. The Windows 10 ESU program was announced last year, and it costs $30 per device if you don't want to sign in with a Microsoft Account and sync your PC settings to the cloud. As an alternative, you can pay 1,000 Microsoft Reward points instead of cash. To enroll your PC or laptop in the Windows 10 ESU program, you need to use a dedicated app that will begin rolling out in July. Meanwhile, the Windows Backup app is already available for Windows 10 users. The app allows you to sync documents, pictures, apps, credentials, and even PC settings to the cloud using your Microsoft Account. The backup is done via OneDrive, which provides 5G of cloud storage for free for each user. This Windows Backup app needs to be set up if you want the free security updates that go beyond October 2025 (which is when the official Windows 10 end-of-support is). Windows 10 Image Credit – Clint Patterson on Unsplash Basically, more than half of the Windows users right now are running Windows 10. And of course, Microsoft may be starting to worry that this October over half a billion PCs and laptops will be abandoned without support, and may be vulnerable to new security threats. So, this latest move of giving the option to benefit from the ESU program for free can have more people from that user base remain supported for an additional course, if you don't want to use your Microsoft Account and back up your PC settings to the cloud or you don't want to pay for extended security updates, your Windows 10 machine will be left unsupported on October 14, 2025. At first, this isn't a huge deal - nothing major should change - but over time, it could become an issue. The thing is, malicious users are always one step ahead, right - they find new to hack a computer and discover new security vulnerabilities. Those usually get addressed via security updates, but if your Windows 10 isn't getting any, well, it will slowly become a bigger risk. It's worth noting that the ESU program is designed only to deliver security updates to your Windows 10. So there won't be any new features and improvements to the OS anyway. Technical support for Windows 10 will end on October 14 even if you signed in with a Microsoft Account or decided to pay $30. So, no bug fixes either. Just security patches. Microsoft has been trying to urge people to move to Windows 11. A curious end-of-support article recently basically said in plain text that you should get a new laptop for Windows 11... Of course, the company would love you to either upgrade to Windows 11 on your existing laptop (if it supports it) or buy a new one. The ESU program basically exists so people who have no choice but to stay on Windows 10 for now can at least be somewhat protected from risks. And understandably, if you want the new features that Microsoft releases, you'll have to be on Windows 11 as well. Right now, the company is betting heavy on AI and many of the latest Windows 11 features are, well, in this direction. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
Microsoft's Upgrade Mistake For 400 Million Windows Users
This huge reversal has an equally huge problem. What a difference a week makes. Microsoft has suddenly 'given up' and confirmed the inevitable. Windows 10 support will be extended at no cost until October 2026. So it seems the October 2025 hard red line was neither as hard nor as red as expected. Unfortunately, it seems this is a mistake affecting more than 400 million users. Ironically, after years of trying, the week Microsoft chose to drop this bombshell was also the week its Windows 11 upgrade campaign finally started hitting home, with the newer version of the OS catching Windows 10's market share for the first time. The current Windows 10 user base divides into two camps. Somewhere around 400 million users with PCs eligible to upgrade and around 240 million that can't. With the upgrade program working, Microsoft should have limited its free support extension to only those with ineligible PCs. That's where the upgrade complexity and cost lies. Instead, any users favoring Windows 10 who would balk at paying the expected $30 12-month ESU price get a free extension, subject to using Microsoft's cloud backup. It will be fascinating to see what happens to those upgrade stats over the coming weeks. Windows 11 finally catches Windows 10 In my view, Microsoft has missed a trick and this is a mistake. There was a genuine case to give ineligible PC owners more time to upgrade hardware, without giving the entire Windows 10 user base a break. The fear now is this just kicks the problem down the road, stopping or even reversing the accelerating upgrade train for eligible PCs. This is the second softening of the hard red line in recent weeks, with the other concession being a three-year security support extension for office apps on Windows 10, which had been expected to disappear come October this year. Windows 10's free extension On that note, there is a word of caution for Windows 10 users. Microsoft's blogpost announcing the free extension also promised it 'will continue to provide Security Intelligence Updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10 through October 2028.' This is not the same as full security support and should not be treated as such. The extension is a one-year deal not a three-year deal, despite some reports. Windows Latest has published a first look at the new ESU wizard, which lists the three options: Cloud backup, reward points or $30. It then confirms that support is extended beyond October. "In our tests, it just takes a few seconds to extend support. You'll see the 'Enroll now' button on the right side of the Windows Update." Obviously, 'you don't need to meet Windows 11 requirements to be eligible for Extended Security updates," which would be counter-intuitive. But neither is it disabled if you do. 'Right now, this enrollment feature works only in the Windows Insider Program,' Windows Latest says. 'You don't have to join the program for the 'Enroll now' button, as Microsoft says it will roll out the feature to everyone in the coming weeks.'
Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Windows 10 dies in October — 3 ways to avoid upgrading to Windows 11
If you're still using Windows 10, you've probably heard that Microsoft is going to stop supporting it later this year—October 14, 2025 to be specific. That's over a decade after Windows 10 launched in July of 2015, so it's been a decent run. But a lot of people have stuck with Windows 10 because they prefer it over 11, or because their PC doesn't have the hardware required to upgrade to Windows 11. For those of you who can't or won't upgrade off of Windows 10 in October, good news: Microsoft is offering an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program that will allow you to keep receiving critical Windows 10 security updates for an additional year. While these sorts of ESU programs have previously been offered to businesses and enterprises using older versions of Windows, this is the first time Microsoft has made it easily available to everyone. Microsoft initially revealed this new program in late 2024 with promises that it would cost a fee to use. Now, the company has published a blog post clarifying that there will be both free and paid paths to enroll in the Windows 10 ESU program. It's a little confusing, so I've summed up the key things you need to know in the article below. So if you're still running Windows 10 and want it to keep receiving Microsoft security updates after October 2025, here's what you need to do. The gateway you're going to use to take part in the Windows 10 ESU is an enrollment wizard that will begin to nag you in the Windows 10 Notifications menu and in the Windows 10 Settings menu. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. So if you're currently using a Windows 10 PC, just sit tight—the enrollment wizard is rolling out first to testers in the Windows Insider Program, and Microsoft doesn't expect to make it broadly available to all Windows 10 users until August 2025. Once you gain access to the enrollment wizard, it will give you three options to keep receiving critical security updates for Windows 10: Pay $30, pay 1,000 Microsoft points, or sign up for Windows Backup and use it to back up your Windows settings. Backing up your Windows data and settings with Windows Backup is the cheapest option, but it requires you to back up your data to Microsoft's OneDrive servers. Let's quickly walk through each choice so you can understand your options. The most straightforward way to enroll in the Extended Security Updates program for Windows 10 is to pay Microsoft $30 for the privilege. This is the first path Microsoft announced back when it unveiled the ESU program, and it's certainly the path the company would prefer you take. I think a big reason the ESU is being offered for Windows 10 users is profit: Microsoft has seen consistent demand from Windows diehards wanting to stay on their preferred version for years and years, and with Windows 10 the company is finally offering a service that lets them do so for a price. I think this option makes a lot of sense for folks who prefer Windows 10 over 11 and don't use Microsoft services, since the $30 fee is fairly affordable and delivers a straightforward benefit: 1 year of critical security updates for Windows 10. But if you're a regular user of Microsoft products and services, you'll probably find it more affordable to take the company up on its offer of a year of Windows 10 ESU membership for 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. These are the points your Windows account accumulates when doing things like searching in Bing or playing Xbox games, and odds are good you probably have at least a thousand sitting dormant in your Microsoft Rewards account. if you don't, it won't take long to earn them—you can earn 500 Microsoft Rewards points just for downloading the Bing smartphone app right now, for example. Once you have the requisite thousand, you can cash them in via the Windows 10 ESU enrollment app to obtain an additional year of Windows 10 critical updates. The cheapest way to get your Windows 10 machine enrolled in a year of critical security updates is to enroll in the ESU program by using Windows Backup. If you're not familiar, Windows Backup is a relatively new version of Windows' built-in backup tools that lets you quickly back up files, settings and other data to Microsoft's OneDrive service. By default every Windows 10 user gets 5GB of OneDrive space for free, but it's possible to get more by either paying or taking advantage of free offers. Even if you don't have enough OneDrive space to back up your Windows folders (think Documents, Downloads, Photos, Music etc), you can back up your Windows settings and whatever else you can fit in OneDrive and still get the free year of Windows 10 ESU program updates. However, be aware that this means trusting Microsoft with your files and data. Most people don't have a problem with that, but those that do are likely to be exactly the sort of tech afficionados who aren't eager to upgrade to Windows 11. Whatever path you end up choosing when Microsoft's Windows 10 ESU enrollment wizard comes for you, it's nice to see the company offering more ways than just "pay us $30" to stay with Windows 10 into 2026. But remember, even if you take advantage of one of these paths to enroll in the Windows 10 ESU program, you're only guaranteed to get critical security updates for a year. It's possible Microsoft may make it possible to continue receiving critical Windows 10 updates for years after (the company regularly does this for enterprise customers), but don't count on it. If you're going to take advantage of this program I highly recommend you upgrade to Windows 11 by 2026, because being on an unsecured copy of Windows is a surefire way to expose yourself to threats.
