Microsoft will no longer release security patches and updates for Windows XP as of April 8, 2014, so all users are recommended to move to a newer OS version in order to avoid facing major security risks after end of support comes.
According to security experts, Windows XP users can expect to get their computers infected in only 10 minutes after Microsoft stops providing security patches, pretty much because cybercriminals would attempt to exploit every single minor flaw in the OS.
Michael Menor, who is a former military computer specialist and network engineer at Tech Experts, told the Law Journal that the security risks of staying with Windows XP were enormous, so everybody should update as soon as possible.
“They will get infected very quickly,” Menor said. “With XP, you can expect that within 10 minutes, the system would get infected without all of the patches and service bulletins.”
Windows XP is still installed on nearly 29 percent of desktop computers worldwide and chances are that not everyone will move to a newer platform by the time end of support comes.
Microsoft, however, calls for tech savvy users to join the effort of killing Windows XP by providing support to those still running it, in a move supposed to make the IT world a bit more secure.
“Microsoft has provided support for Windows XP for the past 12 years. But now the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources toward supporting more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences,” the company explained in a statement.
“If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses.”
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