Tech Brief 16 October 2025 brings urgent news for Windows loyalists, British quantum ambitions that may be running out of steam, and a new surge in UK cybersecurity threats. Each story today shows how modern tech is often just a remix of old ideas, risks, or stubborn problems. Missed yesterday’s Tech Brief? Catch up here before diving in.
Microsoft Ends Free Windows 10 Support for Millions
“It’ll still work, but you’re on your own now.” Microsoft’s official end of free support for Windows 10 leaves nearly 40 percent of global Windows users without security updates or fixes. Many have clung to Windows 10, seeing it as the last practical Windows after a sequence of divisive changes since the XP days.
For users who are attached to classic Start menus and familiar workflows, security is now a gamble. Out of support means no more critical patches, so malware threats are likely to increase. Forums are already filling with anxious questions about upgrading, switching to open-source alternatives, or running an “insecure” system offline.
Companies have official migration plans, but individuals face the same uncomfortable choice: risk, reformat, or disconnect. If your laptop feels like the last “real” Windows PC, you’re not imagining it.
UK’s Quantum Computing Race Risks Stalling Without Funding
A blunt truth from Parliament this week: the UK is at risk of losing its chance to lead in quantum computing. The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warned that progress will slow dramatically unless investment and government backing are increased soon.
Academic and industry experts reminded Westminster that past tech breakthroughs, from Bletchley Park to ARM, came from national ambition and well-supported teams. Quantum computing could reshape everything from cryptography to drug design. However, the field is moving quickly, with international rivals investing far more than current British funding.
There’s a sense of frustration among technical circles. We have led before and could again if the right bets are made. As with the digital security story above, falling behind in technical investment risks not only pride but also influence on the world stage.
NCSC: China Responsible for Spike in UK Cyber Attacks
Cold statistics, hot topic. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has officially named China as the primary driver behind a wave of cyber attacks targeting British businesses and critical infrastructure. Boardrooms are now receiving warnings and checklists, but the scale and speed are new, according to the NCSC. These attacks are targeted, persistent, and not limited to big tech firms.
Everyday organisations, from charities to schools and local councils, now face sophisticated ransomware and data theft that used to be the stuff of hacker movies. There’s a clear link to the quantum story above: invest in defences or risk falling behind.
This is no longer just IT’s problem. The boundaries have vanished. Boards, hobbyists, parents-everyone has a role in basic cyber hygiene, or we’re all exposed in the next breach.
From the Wayback Machine
On This Day: 1960 : CDC 1604 Transistorised Mainframe Arrives
Sixty-five years ago, Seymour Cray and Control Data Corporation released the CDC 1604 in 1960, one of the world’s first fully transistorised mainframes, though delivery didn’t begin until 1961. With 48-bit word lengths and advanced core memory, it delivered new levels of speed, around 100,000 operations per second, unheard of in its time. Users included NASA, the Pentagon, and research labs. The 1604’s architecture and design philosophy directly inspired Cray’s later supercomputers and contributed architectural DNA that’s still present in today’s high-end servers. Sometimes, history is just an upgrade away from relevance.
Today’s Big Question
What does it take for Britain’s next breakthrough moment: talent, funding, or stubborn belief? Tech Brief 16 October 2025 finds us well equipped in some ways, but missing a spark in others. Between patchless Windows and quantum risks, which matters most to you?
Open your machine, read the world, then power down with a grin. The next chapter could be yours if you want it.
Missed yesterday’s Tech Brief? Catch up here
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