Warning! Windows 8 will no longer receive security updates from today

If you’re still using Windows 8 it’s now time to upgrade because that operating system is about to get a whole lot less secure.

From today, January 12 2016, Microsoft will stop issuing security patches for its 3-year-old tiled OS, which will mean users will no longer be safe from newer threats.

Anyone still on Windows 8 -- according to NetMarketShare that's just under 3 percent of desktop users -- will need to either upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates.

Windows 8.1 (with Update) is a significant improvement over Windows 8, and Windows 10 -- even with all its flaws -- is a very good OS. Both upgrades are entirely free to users on Windows 8, so there’s little reason not to make the leap.

While new versions of Windows typically receive ten years of security updates, Windows 8 is an exception because Microsoft views Windows 8.1 as the equivalent of a service pack, rather than a separate OS.