China orders state agencies to uninstall customized Windows 10

China's Ministry of State Security has reportedly ordered state-linked organizations to uninstall a customized “Government Edition” of Windows 10. This directive accelerates a transition that was originally scheduled to conclude in February 2027.

The software in question was developed by C&M Information Technologies (CMIT), a joint venture between Microsoft and the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group. While the edition was designed to meet Chinese security requirements by using local encryption algorithms and stripping consumer features, the move reflects growing concerns regarding data security and the risks of relying on foreign-origin codebases.

Following the reports, shares of domestic Chinese operating system vendors, including Kylinsec and Archermind, saw significant increases on the Shanghai market. The shift highlights Beijing's ongoing efforts to achieve software autonomy and reduce vulnerability to potential cyberattacks or foreign backdoors. Potential alternatives for the state sector include domestic Linux distributions such as UnionTech’s UOS and Kylinsec, or Huawei’s HarmonyOS.