Microsoft extends virus warnings for Windows XP to 2015

Gadgetman496 · 17-01-2014 01:31AM #1

Microsoft extends virus warnings for Windows XP to 2015

About 30% of all desktops are thought to be still running Windows XP

Microsoft has decided to continue providing virus warnings for the ageing Windows XP operating system until 2015.

The warnings were due to end on 8 April 2014 when all other support for the software is scheduled to stop.

However, the numbers still running the 12-year-old operating system convinced it to provide more help.

About 30% of all desktop computers are still running XP, according to figures from research firm Net Applications.

Microsoft explained its change of policy in a blogpost saying the feed of security information was the only support XP users would receive after 8 April this year.

This would mean that it continued to provide signatures for well-known malicious programs that will help Windows XP spot when viruses, trojans and other cyber-threats try to compromise a PC. The malware-spotting updates will be provided for Microsoft's Security Essentials and for a wide variety of corporate tools used to protect large numbers of PCs.

These security updates will be produced until 14 July, 2015.

However, security patches, regular updates and bug fixes for XP will stop as scheduled on 8 April.

In its blogpost, Microsoft warned users to stop using XP to ensure they stay safe.

"The effectiveness of anti-malware solutions on out-of-support operating systems is limited," said Microsoft. "Running a well-protected solution starts with using modern software and hardware designed to help protect against today's threat landscape."

Despite its age, Windows XP has proved to have a long life on desktops in homes and businesses. This led Microsoft to keep selling it long past the date it was due to be removed from shop shelves.

This longevity is partly because of the poor reception that its successor Windows Vista received and because some businesses have found it hard to adapt to the changes introduced in Windows 7 and 8.

Source BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25758308

yoyo · 17-01-2014 10:06AM

Moved from Comp & Tech

PropJoe10 · 20-01-2014 12:48AM

Better than nothing I suppose. There's going to be some major crap hitting the fan this year when support for XP ends.

Sir Arthur Daley · 21-01-2014 03:23AM

I got my laptop upgraded to windows 7 but would prefer XP any day, this is good news though that they will support it till 2015.

Mycroft H · 21-01-2014 03:28AM

WikiHow wrote: »

I got my laptop upgraded to windows 7 but would prefer XP any day, this is good news though that they will support it till 2015.

Like I know its personal preference but the user interface of XP is so dated now, its a complete pain going back to it from any modern operating system. Not to mention hardware/media support etc.

Sir Arthur Daley · 21-01-2014 03:32AM

How is it almost a third are still running XP if it is so dated do you think?

Gadgetman496 · 21-01-2014 10:30AM

Aside from eye-candy, XP is still as functional today as it was when it was first released. I have 3 machines on the go here and my XP machine is still my main rig. There are none of my needs that it can't handle over my newer Win 7 or Win 8.1 machines.

At the end of the day, if what you have does what you need? why rush down the Apple route by convincing yourself you must have the most recent system regardless of cost or requirements?

PropJoe10 · 21-01-2014 12:06PM

They are only providing virus definitions til 2015, not OS updates and patches. XP end of life is still 8th April 2014.

I see an article in the paper today about ATMs still running on XP. If this is the case, the banks are idiots. They've had more than enough notice to upgrade their software.

21-01-2014 12:15PM

PropJoe10 wrote: »

They are only providing virus definitions til 2015, not OS updates and patches. XP end of life is still 8th April 2014.

I see an article in the paper today about ATMs still running on XP. If this is the case, the banks are idiots. They've had more than enough notice to upgrade their software.

The one in the Independent? Irish journalists continuing to display their massive ignorance when it comes to anything remotely technological.

I'd be amazed if any ATMs had any recent XP security patches installed. These machines are incredibly locked down. They do not have an open internet connection. If an unauthorised user could get access to it, you're already doing it wrong, regardless of whether the machine is patched or not

PropJoe10 · 21-01-2014 01:33PM

28064212 wrote: »

The one in the Independent? Irish journalists continuing to display their massive ignorance when it comes to anything remotely technological.

I'd be amazed if any ATMs had any recent XP security patches installed. These machines are incredibly locked down. They do not have an open internet connection. If an unauthorised user could get access to it, you're already doing it wrong, regardless of whether the machine is patched or not

True, but there's obviously some issues needing to be addressed if the banks are actually commenting on this. Some of the older ATM's run Windows NT, I've heard. You'd be hoping that these arent exposed to the internet!

21-01-2014 01:41PM

PropJoe10 wrote: »

True, but there's obviously some issues needing to be addressed if the banks are actually commenting on this.

Are they? The only reference in the Independent is "Spokesmen for Ulster Bank, Bank Of Ireland and AIB said that they were working to address the situation but were confident customers would not face any disruption". They all said that, did they? Amazing that they all used the same words. No direct quote of course. Was it spokesmen, or non-technical customer support?

PropJoe10 wrote: »

Some of the older ATM's run Windows NT, I've heard. You'd be hoping that these arent exposed to the internet!

Some of the even older ATMS run OS/2 Warp. Support ended for that in 2006

Stuxnet · 21-01-2014 01:41PM

WikiHow wrote: »

I got my laptop upgraded to windows 7 but would prefer XP any day, this is good news though that they will support it till 2015.

They are only support the "anti virus package" if you can call it that, there will be no system support or security patches. Dont confuse the two.

Capt'n Midnight · 22-01-2014 12:43AM

PropJoe10 wrote: »

They are only providing virus definitions til 2015, not OS updates and patches. XP end of life is still 8th April 2014.

I see an article in the paper today about ATMs still running on XP. If this is the case, the banks are idiots. They've had more than enough notice to upgrade their software.

The banks are using embedded XP which is different and it's good for at least another two years.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/product-lifecycles.aspx
Windows XP Professional for Embedded Systems - December 31, 2016

Microsoft extends virus warnings for Windows XP to 2015

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