Microsoft warns users off Windows XP

[Simon]

Microsoft has warned the many millions of users of Windows XP that it now has fewer than 1,000 days of support left.

While that still means more than two-and-a-half years before businesses and users will need to upgrade, many have been slow to do so. Net Applications shows XP still holds a 51% share, compared to 27% for Windows 7.

From 8 April 2014, Microsoft will no longer issue security patches or hotfixes for the ageing OS. "So bottom line, PCs running Windows XP will be vulnerable to security threats," wrote Stephen Rose, community manager, in a post on the Windows blog.

"Furthermore, many third-party software providers are not planning to extend support for their applications running on Windows XP, which translates to even more complexity, security risks, and ultimately, added management costs for your IT department if you're still managing Windows XP environments," he added.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/enterprise/368620/microsoft-warns-users-off-windows-xp

[drummer]

Meh!

I have four machines running XP Pro/SP3 and haven't bothered with updates/patches since 2007, even though I'm very concerned about security.

Added to that, I've spent thousands of pounds on software and hardware that won't work with Vista or Win7.  Microsoft can go stuff themselves if they think we're all so blimming terrified of malware that we'll slavishly buy into the latest OS.

That said, there's also a Vista/Linux lappy, two Win7 boxes and two Mac OSX machines running in this household.

Vulnerable, schmulnerable...

[pctech]

Why have you not bothered with patches since 2007?

I agree with you about not updating to the latest OS but patches are a bit like antibiotics, if there are unpatched systems connected to a shared network such as the Internet the pox will still circulate.

[gizmo71]

I have four machines running XP Pro/SP3 and haven't bothered with updates/patches since 2007, even though I'm very concerned about security.

Obviously your definition of "very concerned" differs from mine...

[Niall]

I'm guessing it isn't directly connected to an outward facing network. I know for a fact, having experienced it, that if you connect a bare bones XP install to the net, within minutes you get infected (unless that old gem of a virus no longer circulates). It was quite amusing in a way when it happened, and also when it happened at a lan event I went to with 3 lads installing a new system. All infected in under 5 minutes. Pain in the arse that virus was