China Abandons Windows 10 Amid Security Concerns
China's state-operated organizations are abandoning Windows 10 due to security concerns. The Ministry of State Security has issued an order to remove the 'Government Edition' of Windows 10 from their systems, despite Microsoft and C&M Information Technologies developing a custom version that met China's security requirements in 2016.
The custom OS, which was designed with proprietary Chinese encryption and disabled various consumer features, is being phased out due to increased national security concerns. Plans to move away from Windows 10 were initially set for February 2027 but have been accelerated ahead of schedule.
China's decision to rely on its own software and hardware is driven by a desire for autonomy in technology use. The country seeks independence from foreign codebases, citing the risk of cyberattacks, espionage, and backdoors in US-developed software.