China Accelerates Phase-Out of Microsoft’s Windows 10 from State Agencies
According to a Bloomberg report, the Ministry of State Security in China has mandated various state-affiliated organizations to uninstall a tailored iteration of Microsoft’s Windows 10 from their systems, as relayed by informed sources. Originally slated for retirement in February 2027, the discontinuation is now being expedited.
The operating system in question is a bespoke version of Windows 10 crafted by C&M Information Technologies Co. (CMIT), a joint venture inaugurated in 2016 between Microsoft and the state-controlled China Electronics Technology Group. This collaboration was established to ensure compliance with China’s stringent security protocols.
In contrast to the conventional Windows variant utilized on personal computers, this customized edition granted enhanced security feature management to Chinese government personnel.
Notably, it incorporated support for Chinese encryption algorithms, diverging from Microsoft’s standard cryptographic practices.
The recent development signifies yet another stride in China’s methodical endeavor to supplant imported technology with indigenous alternatives.
This resolution reportedly materialized mere weeks before a highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, catching some employees within state agencies off guard.
China is shifting to Linux-based systems
The transition away from Windows does not imply that Chinese state agencies will eschew personal computers altogether.
Rather, there is a concerted push for them to adopt operating systems architected by domestic companies, particularly for applications managing sensitive data.
This initiative aligns with a broader strategy aimed at diminishing reliance on foreign technology within sensitive sectors such as government, state-owned enterprises, and the military.
China initiated a three-year campaign to replace foreign-made PCs in government offices back in 2019 and, in 2022, directed central agencies and state corporations to eliminate foreign-branded computing devices.
China is not isolated in its quest for alternatives to Windows. France announced in April plans to transition its government entities from Windows to Linux systems, while Germany, Denmark, and Austria have also taken measures to curtail reliance on Microsoft’s infrastructure.
Nonetheless, Windows remains exceedingly prevalent among Chinese consumers. Data from StatCounter indicated that Windows comprised an impressive 87.64 percent of China’s desktop web traffic as of July 2026.
In response, Microsoft told Bloomberg that it remains unaware of any security incidents impacting the customized version of Windows, emphasizing that it continues to receive regular security updates.
Source link: Businesstoday.in.
