‘Faster, Free’—Google Offers Windows Users A PC Upgrade

InnovationCybersecurity‘Faster, Free’—Google Offers Windows Users A PC UpgradeByZak Doffman,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Zak Doffman writes about cybersecurity, surveillance and privacy.Follow AuthorMay 08, 2026, 02:10pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Don't bin that old PC.Getty ImagesMicrosoft is changing Windows Update. For the first time ever, the Secure Boot certificates first issued in 2011 start expiring in June. Microsoft will automatically install new certificates on most PCs. But for hundreds of millions of Windows 10 users, there are no new certificates. After the June expiry date, you will be at risk.When Windows 10 expired in October 2025, Microsoft put in place a free year of extended support. This is available until October. You need to enrol to secure these security updates. You’ll also get new Secure Boot certificates.Don't bin that old PC.Getty ImagesBut for PC owners who do not have the extended security updates, Google offers a free PC upgrade. “Windows 10 has reached its end of support, putting those computers at risk of obsolescence. This left many people with a difficult decision: spend hundreds on a new device, or continue using an insecure, outdated one.”As consumer group Which explains, you can “transform your old laptop into a faster, free Chromebook." The group has just published a helpful tutorial on “how you can transform a deteriorating laptop into a secure, speedy machine for free.”MORE FOR YOUThe website explains that “older laptops that don’t meet the hardware requirements to upgrade can become unsafe to use online, as well as painfully slow. Instead of letting yours go to waste, consider turning it into a Chromebook. ChromeOS Flex is a free and speedy operating system based on the Google Chrome web browser."And because “ChromeOS is essentially a web browser,” it needs muc...