A new version of the popular Rufus utility once again bypasses Microsoft's strict hardware compatibility requirements for Windows 11 upgrades. But the way it's implemented might make some people nervous.

If you're currently using any version of Windows other than Windows 11, then your system is either already unsupported (Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8.1), or soon to become unsupported (Windows 10). And Microsoft's best advice for anyone in that situation is "move to Windows 11 by buying a new PC".

As spotted by Neowin, Microsoft has quietly updated its official advice for unsupported versions of Windows, which currently includes Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. These ageing operating systems no longer receive security updates from Microsoft and are therefore susceptible to attacks from hackers seeking bugs and vulnerabilities in software to access your personal and sensitive data.

The endless cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and the community of devoted Windows hackers just took another turn.