Almost every third young adults show deficits in IT security

Digital natives have no problems with technology – a Google survey represents it differently. (© Adobe Stock – Krakenimages.com)

The widespread assumption that young people are automatically competent in dealing with digital technologies is a fallacy-at least when it comes to a study commissioned by IT-Riese Google.

The results obtained through the opinion research institute YouGov were determined using 2,046 participants; According to the announcement, the results are representative of the resident population in Germany aged 18 and over. A sobering picture is created from these results:

• Almost two thirds of the Germans (65 percent) do not know how long the operating system installed on your computer will still receive security updates.
• Around 32 percent of those surveyed stated that they had problems with malware or data loss due to the lack of updates.

A surprising gap is particularly concerned with the age group of 18- to 24-year-olds: 27 percent of the respondents from this age group do not know what to do with the course of the security updates.

Overall, 28 percent of the respondents perceive the setting up of a new device as »Larger hurdle than the tax return or building an IKEA cabinet without instructions«.

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Two weeks Switch 2: Hype or bad buy?

Alternatives before Windows 10’s support end

The background to this survey is simple: the support end of Windows 10 is on October 14, 2025; From this date, the operating system will no longer receive any security updates – Microsoft will also not tire of emphasizing that.

As a study commissioned by Google, the company naturally also uses the favor of the hour to go to the in -house Chromebooks with Chromeos as »Simple and safe solution for everyday life«To point out.

Apart from this more or less hidden advertising, the notification from Tim Kowalke (Strategic Partner Manager Chromeos at Google Germany) still draws a comprehensible conclusion:

These alternatives are actually abandoned. In addition to the addressed Chromeos and the simple change to Windows 11, there are always experience reports on Gamestar Tech how the departure towards MacOS or Linux feels:

Despite the known risks, around 30 percent of those surveyed explain that they will continue to use an older notebook even if it no longer receives security updates.

How do you prepare for the Windows 10 support end? Are you planning to switch to Windows 11, MacOS or Linux? Let us get your experiences and plans in the comments!