Windows XP antimalware support ends next month

[Chicog]

Just in case you forgot:

Microsoft has announced the Windows XP end of support date of April 8, 2014. After this date, Windows XP will no longer be a supported operating system*. To help organizations complete their migrations, Microsoft will continue to provide updates to our antimalware signatures and engine for Windows XP users through July 14, 2015.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

This concerns Microsoft Security Essentials. I'm sure users can and will find other solutions.

[crabdog]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

[Chicog]

This concerns Microsoft Security Essentials. I'm sure users can and will find other solutions.

Actually no, it concerns all MS Security products, Forefront, SCEP etc. Because I have 300 of the b*****D's I'm still stuck with.

AVG and Avast Free are probably the best bet for those clinging on, but they are little protection to an increasingly vulnerable OS.

[jimmysjo]

Crabdog. Why? Who are you that think you can decide what OS I should use. I am perfectly happy with XP, and are really sorry that MS have decided to stop supporting it.

But, off course, they have to force people to change OS after some time. How would they otherwise make any profit?

In a perfect world they would have continued to upgrade the Amiga OS. The most user friendly OS I can think of.

Edited June 25, 2015 by jimmysjo

[quandow]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

A rather myopic perspective. If new computers could run XP, the majority of os software worldwide would still be XP. 95% of users do email, Facebook, simple financials, and download porn movies. XP satisfies all these requirements.

The search algorithm of Win 7 up to and including Win 10 sux. I have tried searching for a file that I can see exists right there and if I made the unfortunate mistake of indexing that folder, it just can't see the file. XP searches just fine.

I get quite frustrated EVERY time I open up my explorer and expand a folder only to have that folder drop down to the bottom of that window so I have to scroll it back up to see what subfolders are there. XP expands very nicely, no folders jumping around like a raped ape.

Networking with Win 7 is difficult, near impossible in Win 10 unless you use their homegroup deal. And the new Win 10 will really really really try to get you corralled into using their cloud file storage. XP was a networking dream. I understand there were security issues with XP networking, but rather than investing in closing these holes (which doesn't produce as much profit as does a new os), Micro$oft came out with Vista - what a Frankenstein THAT was!

I'm all for improvement, but change merely for the sake of change and profit is nonsensical.

[xen]

Just a question out of curiosity but i understand most ATMs and some other public utilities like some security applications/CTV etc still use XP .(especially if they were installed over a decade ago) . Have they updated too or is Microsoft still supporting them though another agreement ?

[crabdog]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

A rather myopic perspective. If new computers could run XP, the majority of os software worldwide would still be XP. 95% of users do email, Facebook, simple financials, and download porn movies. XP satisfies all these requirements.

The search algorithm of Win 7 up to and including Win 10 sux. I have tried searching for a file that I can see exists right there and if I made the unfortunate mistake of indexing that folder, it just can't see the file. XP searches just fine.

I get quite frustrated EVERY time I open up my explorer and expand a folder only to have that folder drop down to the bottom of that window so I have to scroll it back up to see what subfolders are there. XP expands very nicely, no folders jumping around like a raped ape.

Networking with Win 7 is difficult, near impossible in Win 10 unless you use their homegroup deal. And the new Win 10 will really really really try to get you corralled into using their cloud file storage. XP was a networking dream. I understand there were security issues with XP networking, but rather than investing in closing these holes (which doesn't produce as much profit as does a new os), Micro$oft came out with Vista - what a Frankenstein THAT was!

I'm all for improvement, but change merely for the sake of change and profit is nonsensical.

Well I don't really know what you're so hung up on it for. I disabled Onedrive cloud storage and have not been bothered by it a single time since. Explorer is extremely easy to navigate and the search function in the current build of Windows 10 works very well indeed.

As for "95% of users do email, Facebook, simple financials, and download porn movies" every Windows version does these and every single Linux distribution I've tried (and I have tried many, many of these) do these tasks perfectly as well.

Edited June 25, 2015 by crabdog

[BuaBS]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

Like I already wrote in another post about XP : you'd have to pay me to even get a new free win10 machine.

Microsoft anti malware is one of the worst in tests. So no loss there. There are still free anti virus & malware programs that support XP. I really don't care that MS doesn't support XP , I have no updates since 2010-11.

In return I do not support MS either...555.

The only thing I miss , is XP support for external HDD's bigger than 2 TB.

[crabdog]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

Like I already wrote in another post about XP : you'd have to pay me to even get a new free win10 machine.

Microsoft anti malware is one of the worst in tests. So no loss there. There are still free anti virus & malware programs that support XP. I really don't care that MS doesn't support XP , I have no updates since 2010-11.

In return I do not support MS either...555.

The only thing I miss , is XP support for external HDD's bigger than 2 TB.

Kind of ironic that you do not support MS but refuse to let go of their legacy software. And if you haven't updated since 2010-11 (lol <deleted>) why do you even care that support is ending.

[BuaBS]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

Like I already wrote in another post about XP : you'd have to pay me to even get a new free win10 machine.

Microsoft anti malware is one of the worst in tests. So no loss there. There are still free anti virus & malware programs that support XP. I really don't care that MS doesn't support XP , I have no updates since 2010-11.

In return I do not support MS either...555.

The only thing I miss , is XP support for external HDD's bigger than 2 TB.

Kind of ironic that you do not support MS but refuse to let go of their legacy software. And if you haven't updated since 2010-11 (lol <deleted>) why do you even care that support is ending.

I didn't support them , by not buying vista/win7/win8/win8,1/win10 nor Office. XP came with the PC and is the cheaper OEM version. I don't care that support has and is ending.

I still have XP ,but why is a XP basher like you here answering this post. Do you own MS stock ?

[dddave]

On the subject of Win-XP, I have a 13 year old Toshiba laptop (Win-XP(2002), Pentium-4, 704 mg ram) that I have not used for a long time. I am considering using it as a machine dedicated to downloading torrents only. I once tried to upgrade the ram but it turned out the entire keyboard and inside components needed to be removed to access the memory slot.

Not really worth it because the older RAM for this machine was very expensive. No point in just going from 704mb to 1gb so I would have had to buy 2 1gb sticks to make it worthwhile...got a new laptop instead.

Is it even advisable to try to upgrade the OS? (I'm really computer inept) What would be the maximum size HD I could download to?

LINUX has been suggested to me but I am a (very) old dog and that is a new trick.

Edited June 25, 2015 by dddave

[crabdog]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

Like I already wrote in another post about XP : you'd have to pay me to even get a new free win10 machine.

Microsoft anti malware is one of the worst in tests. So no loss there. There are still free anti virus & malware programs that support XP. I really don't care that MS doesn't support XP , I have no updates since 2010-11.

In return I do not support MS either...555.

The only thing I miss , is XP support for external HDD's bigger than 2 TB.

Kind of ironic that you do not support MS but refuse to let go of their legacy software. And if you haven't updated since 2010-11 (lol <deleted>) why do you even care that support is ending.

I didn't support them , by not buying vista/win7/win8/win8,1/win10 nor Office. XP came with the PC and is the cheaper OEM version. I don't care that support has and is ending.

I still have XP ,but why is a XP basher like you here answering this post. Do you own MS stock ?

I guess you missed the part where I said "OR Linux"?

[Chicog]

Networking with Win 7 is difficult, near impossible in Win 10 unless you use their homegroup deal. And the new Win 10 will really really really try to get you corralled into using their cloud file storage. XP was a networking dream.

That is a complete load of tosh.

I've been using Win 10 since the preview started, both at home, on a desktop, on a laptop and on my corporate network.

It is a dream to work with as far as networks are concerned; you have no idea what you are talking about.

XP is positively kludgy in comparison.

If you want to stick with an increasingly insecure OS simply because you're a dinosaur, please carry on, but don't try and paint it as the best OS Microsoft have ever released, because it isn't. Windows 7 is better for heaven's sake.

You can't blame Microsoft for not wanting to waste huge amounts of money supporting XP for the sake of a few tightwads, but personally I think they should hand it over to the Open Source community. However there is too much proprietary technology in the for that to ever happen.

[quandow]

JEEZUZ! I thought we were having a civil discussion, then how quickly this turned to mud slinging, name calling, resentful crap. Shame on every one of you that can't keep this a decent debate!

[Farang99]

I am still using XP and have been very happy with it, but becoming increasigly concerned with the ending of MS support. Thinking of changing to Windows 7, but reluctant to take that step because of all the hassle of backing up and reloading files and programs. Any thoughts?

[khunken]

Networking with Win 7 is difficult, near impossible in Win 10 unless you use their homegroup deal. And the new Win 10 will really really really try to get you corralled into using their cloud file storage. XP was a networking dream.

That is a complete load of tosh.

I've been using Win 10 since the preview started, both at home, on a desktop, on a laptop and on my corporate network.

It is a dream to work with as far as networks are concerned; you have no idea what you are talking about.

XP is positively kludgy in comparison.

If you want to stick with an increasingly insecure OS simply because you're a dinosaur, please carry on, but don't try and paint it as the best OS Microsoft have ever released, because it isn't. Windows 7 is better for heaven's sake.

You can't blame Microsoft for not wanting to waste huge amounts of money supporting XP for the sake of a few tightwads, but personally I think they should hand it over to the Open Source community. However there is too much proprietary technology in the for that to ever happen.

And that is tosh too. XP is no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs. There is nothing wrong with XP for networking as far as the home user is concerned.

I've tried Win 7 and hardly use it on a dual-boot PC. I also have an old HP notebook still going strong with 1 Gb RAM using XP that wouldn't accomodate any of the later versions.

I don't give a shyt that Mshaft is not supporting XP as I use better freeware protection than they ever offered. XP on ATMs & POS devices is no threat as they are not connected to the internet (I've worked on banking applications including ATM & POS networks).

Last but not least, I use Outlook Express with all my email clients feeding it via POP3 - one of the best products MS produced which they discontinued after XP.

Maybe I am a dinosaur but I did learn that the Wintel alliance always tried to drive users to buy new computers with new OSs, not because they were better but through fear (which the MS discontinuing of 'support' is all about) & built-in obsolesence of PCs & notebooks, thereby getting users to spend more money on their products. Oh and using Moore's law as part of the facade.

[mo3s]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle?C2=1173

Windows XP is dead. Upgrade!

[BuaBS]

I didn't support them , by not buying vista/win7/win8/win8,1/win10 nor Office. XP came with the PC and is the cheaper OEM version. I don't care that support has and is ending.

I still have XP ,but why is a XP basher like you here answering this post. Do you own MS stock ?

I guess you missed the part where I said "OR Linux"?

No I didn't miss that. Lunix has shot itself in the foot (or face). Dilluting into a hundred or more "flavors".

A forest where you can't see the trees. And the awful naming of their programs & parts of the operating system. Saying that "mint" looks a lot like XP , doesn't say much about how it works and feels.

Lunix people keep trying to make it hard to switch. There should be some kind of translater manual , putting win XP terms/program parts into Linux. But even then it would not be like XP , or better.

A computer should be fun , it should just work , like winXP already does. I don't want my precious time wasted on learning things that I can already do on trusted XP.

Most of us here on TV are older , let the kids figure win 10 /linux out. (And no I don't want any iCrap from that fruit company).

[BuaBS]

I am still using XP and have been very happy with it, but becoming increasigly concerned with the ending of MS support. Thinking of changing to Windows 7, but reluctant to take that step because of all the hassle of backing up and reloading files and programs. Any thoughts?

XP support is completely irrelevant. You don't need it. If you have a problem duckduckgo it . There is a lot of help on the net. Your machine may not work with win7 , especially the drivers for your hardware.

Some programs will not work on win7 and the new version of them that is compatible , usually has changes in them and not for the better.

[HughJass]

I love my XP as many of the above have said,its a pity i cant load it onto one of these new powerful machines that are on sale today.something to do with no drivers available i think

[dddave]

JEEZUZ! I thought we were having a civil discussion, then how quickly this turned to mud slinging, name calling, resentful crap. Shame on every one of you that can't keep this a decent debate!

"Lively discussion" is a better characterization...testy at times but never violent, except of course when Windows discussions are interrupted by members of the Apple Fanboy Cadre.

[Chicog]

And that is tosh too. XP is no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs.

Subsequent OS's are being patched to block security flaws, many of them critical.

Not only is XP *not* being patched (unless you are paying for it as a corporate client), but every time Microsoft release a critical patch to later versions, it can be reverse engineered to identify the flaw in XP, making it even more insecure.

So every critical security flaw in Windows that's been fixed since MS stopped patching XP (and there are many) are present on your Windows XP system, with more being found and exploited all the time.

So care to tell me how it is "no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs"?

XP on ATMs & POS devices is no threat as they are not connected to the internet (I've worked on banking applications including ATM & POS networks).

And that is incredibly naive at best.

Edited June 25, 2015 by Chicog

[BuaBS]

And that is tosh too. XP is no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs.

Subsequent OS's are being patched to block security flaws, many of them critical.

Not only is XP *not* being patched (unless you are paying for it as a corporate client), but every time Microsoft release a critical patch to later versions, it can be reverse engineered to identify the flaw in XP, making it even more insecure.

So every critical security flaw in Windows that's been fixed since MS stopped patching XP (and there are many) are present on your Windows XP system, with more being found and exploited all the time.

So care to tell me how it is "no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs"?

XP on ATMs & POS devices is no threat as they are not connected to the internet (I've worked on banking applications including ATM & POS networks).

And that is incredibly naive at best.

""So every critical security flaw in Windows that's been fixed since MS stopped patching XP.........""""

MS has rewritten win 8 & 10 so that it is quite different than XP. Not all updates, patches and even critical patches for 7, 8, 8.1 & 10 are flaws in XP nor will they be exploited on a dwindling number of XP machines.

It's been 5 years sinds I stopped patching , and even before I did only patch what I thought was kind of necessairy. Never a problem or exploit . Now more than 1 year after that ominous day that the XP world would end , how much has been exploited ?

[h90]

This concerns Microsoft Security Essentials. I'm sure users can and will find other solutions.

Actually no, it concerns all MS Security products, Forefront, SCEP etc. Because I have 300 of the b*****D's I'm still stuck with.

AVG and Avast Free are probably the best bet for those clinging on, but they are little protection to an increasingly vulnerable OS.

We don't use any security products. Use Firefox and Thunderbird, have a firewall on the router that allows only the necessary ports for viewing webpages and email. We don't click on attachments if it looks even remote strange.

We have the sharia law for unauthorized computer use.....if someone plug in an USB stick or installs a game I hack off his hand.

Never we had any problems......The problems come because people click the nackedwomen.exe or browse with IE 6 on the no clothes pages and click yes on everything...

[crabdog]

I didn't support them , by not buying vista/win7/win8/win8,1/win10 nor Office. XP came with the PC and is the cheaper OEM version. I don't care that support has and is ending.

I still have XP ,but why is a XP basher like you here answering this post. Do you own MS stock ?

I guess you missed the part where I said "OR Linux"?

No I didn't miss that. Lunix has shot itself in the foot (or face). Dilluting into a hundred or more "flavors".

A forest where you can't see the trees. And the awful naming of their programs & parts of the operating system. Saying that "mint" looks a lot like XP , doesn't say much about how it works and feels.

Lunix people keep trying to make it hard to switch. There should be some kind of translater manual , putting win XP terms/program parts into Linux. But even then it would not be like XP , or better.

A computer should be fun , it should just work , like winXP already does. I don't want my precious time wasted on learning things that I can already do on trusted XP.

Most of us here on TV are older , let the kids figure win 10 /linux out. (And no I don't want any iCrap from that fruit company).

This is a pretty ignorant statement. "A computer should be fun , it should just work, like winXP already does." I guarantee you that a fresh install of Linux will be up and running before XP. With XP you'd have to spend a lot of time hunting down and then installing legacy drivers for your hardware while most Linux distros will run everything out of the box. And no I'm not a Linux fanboi: I have 3 desktops and 1 laptop and only use Linux on my media pc which is connected to my television. Mint works pretty much exactly the same as XP and even a halfwit wouldn't have to spend more than 5 minutes learning how to use it.

Also " There should be some kind of translater manual , putting win XP terms/program parts into Linux." It's called Google.

btw I'm not an XP hater. Just saying that if you want to keep driving your Model T Ford go ahead. However it will run a lot slower, break down more often, be harder to find parts for, be less safe and less efficient and easier to break into.

[mango66]

XP users should buy a new computer OR switch to linux already. Geez.

A rather myopic perspective. If new computers could run XP, the majority of os software worldwide would still be XP. 95% of users do email, Facebook, simple financials, and download porn movies. XP satisfies all these requirements.

The search algorithm of Win 7 up to and including Win 10 sux. I have tried searching for a file that I can see exists right there and if I made the unfortunate mistake of indexing that folder, it just can't see the file. XP searches just fine.

I get quite frustrated EVERY time I open up my explorer and expand a folder only to have that folder drop down to the bottom of that window so I have to scroll it back up to see what subfolders are there. XP expands very nicely, no folders jumping around like a raped ape.

Networking with Win 7 is difficult, near impossible in Win 10 unless you use their homegroup deal. And the new Win 10 will really really really try to get you corralled into using their cloud file storage. XP was a networking dream. I understand there were security issues with XP networking, but rather than investing in closing these holes (which doesn't produce as much profit as does a new os), Micro$oft came out with Vista - what a Frankenstein THAT was!

I'm all for improvement, but change merely for the sake of change and profit is nonsensical.

money making, profit making !

Read the daily news,

this MS- Billy have now such a bad feeling and sleeping,

that he try to find his peace by sending his money which he dont know where to spend -

he puts in a foundation,

and from there they spending it for themselfs uncontrolled, un-taxed !!

terrible this MS society !!

[Chicog]

MS has rewritten win 8 & 10 so that it is quite different than XP. Not all updates, patches and even critical patches for 7, 8, 8.1 & 10 are flaws in XP nor will they be exploited on a dwindling number of XP machines.

It's been 5 years sinds I stopped patching , and even before I did only patch what I thought was kind of necessairy. Never a problem or exploit . Now more than 1 year after that ominous day that the XP world would end , how much has been exploited ?

Are you by any chance interested in buying a bridge?

[khunken]

And that is tosh too. XP is no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs.

Subsequent OS's are being patched to block security flaws, many of them critical.

Not only is XP *not* being patched (unless you are paying for it as a corporate client), but every time Microsoft release a critical patch to later versions, it can be reverse engineered to identify the flaw in XP, making it even more insecure.

So every critical security flaw in Windows that's been fixed since MS stopped patching XP (and there are many) are present on your Windows XP system, with more being found and exploited all the time.

So care to tell me how it is "no more insecure than any of the subsequent Win OSs"?

XP on ATMs & POS devices is no threat as they are not connected to the internet (I've worked on banking applications including ATM & POS networks).

And that is incredibly naive at best.

Every Win product has flaws, some serious & some not. The constant patching points to that. XP has been around long enough to have been patched to make it pretty safe for home users. It is not true that every flaw found in subsequent OS versions is applicable to XP.

As far as ATM & POS networks go, the article in your link refers to some retailers not having proper security (addressed at the end of the article) measures in place. One major security measure that they've obviously ignored is NOT to have their networks connected to the internet. Oh and BTW the article never even mentioned XP - just some examples of badly run networks.

IMO no critical computer system - airlines, banks, power stations etc - should allow their networks to be penetrated via the internet. There has been numerous cases, even more recently, of critical syatems being hacked - nothing to do with XP but poor systems/network design and security.

For me, a home user, no MS or individual scaremongering has yet convinced me that XP is not as close to perfection for what I use computers for.

[Chicog]

Every Win product has flaws, some serious & some not. The constant patching points to that. XP has been around long enough to have been patched to make it pretty safe for home users. It is not true that every flaw found in subsequent OS versions is applicable to XP.

Every version subsequent to Windows XP contains legacy XP code. I would say most patches that have been released in the last 12 months will identify a flaw in XP; plus you have to factor in patches to IE and Office that they will not be making to XP versions. So not 100% but close enough to it that it makes little difference.

As far as ATM & POS networks go, the article in your link refers to some retailers not having proper security (addressed at the end of the article) measures in place. One major security measure that they've obviously ignored is NOT to have their networks connected to the internet. Oh and BTW the article never even mentioned XP - just some examples of badly run networks.

IMO no critical computer system - airlines, banks, power stations etc - should allow their networks to be penetrated via the internet. There has been numerous cases, even more recently, of critical syatems being hacked - nothing to do with XP but poor systems/network design and security.

The Target breach that leaked tens of millions of card details was done on a network not connected to the Internet. It was breached by someone leaking credentials.

However, they were then able to deploy POS malware by exploiting unpatched systems.

Every single security system has to incorporate a great deal of things, border control, OS and application patching, proper log analysis to name but a few.

But the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

For me, a home user, no MS or individual scaremongering has yet convinced me that XP is not as close to perfection for what I use computers for.

That's nice for you.

But what is wrong is to try and portray that as anything but unnecessarily high risk behaviour.