China’s Ministry of State Security has told some state-linked entities to uninstall a customized version of Windows 10. The order moves up the planned retirement by several months from the original February 2027 date. The software was built by C&M Information Technologies, a joint venture between Microsoft and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group. It was tailored for Chinese government use and allowed local encryption algorithms. Officials cited data security concerns but gave no specific vulnerabilities. Microsoft said it is unaware of any security incident and the product still receives regular updates. Agencies are expected to switch to domestic Linux-based systems such as Kylin OS and Unity OS. The step fits China’s longer campaign to replace foreign technology in sensitive sectors. Windows remains dominant in the consumer market, holding over 87 percent of desktop traffic in China as of July.
China’s Ministry of State Security has told some state-linked entities to uninstall a customized version of Windows 10. The order moves up the planned retirement by several months from the original February 2027 date. The software was built by C&M Information Technologies, a joint venture between Microsoft and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group. It was tailored for Chinese government use and allowed local encryption algorithms. Officials cited data security concerns but gave no specific vulnerabilities. Microsoft said it is unaware of any security incident and the product still receives regular updates. Agencies are expected to switch to domestic Linux-based systems such as Kylin OS and Unity OS. The step fits China’s longer campaign to replace foreign technology in sensitive sectors. Windows remains dominant in the consumer market, holding over 87 percent of desktop traffic in China as of July.