Microsoft warns Windows XP users risk 'zero day forever'

[Brink]

Microsoft's latest tack in trying to wean users off Windows XP is to warn them of a possible 'zero day forever' scenario in the post-April 2014 support cut-off world.

Microsoft has been beating increasingly louder the XP end-of-support drum. Earlier this summer, Microsoft gave its reseller partners marching orders to step up their warnings about the end of support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014. This week, Microsoft echoed that warning, adding a new twist, via an August 15 post on the Microsoft Security Blog.

As Microsoft execs have been cautioning for more than a year, after April 8, 2014, users running Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 -- the last service pack delivered for the 11-year-old operating system -- won't get any more updates. That includes both security and "non-security" hot fixes, free or paid support options and online technical content updates.

Read more at: Microsoft warns Windows XP users risk 'zero day forever' | ZDNet

 

[alphanumeric]

I know of several people that will just continue to use XP. Some just don't understand the implications of continued use or just don't care. Some won't or can't spend the money to upgrade, what they have now works so why buy a new PC? They could just buy Windows 7 but the XP era PC's they have aren't really up to it. I've tried to explain it to them but just get the glassy eyed look.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

What's scary are the number of people who should know better (including here on Win 7 forums) but still insist it will be ok to continue to use XP.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
No problem if you use XP on a Stand alone dedicated machine (say a Machine tool or a piece of Lab equipment) - or if you simply want to run legacy applications and hardware then run as a VM and don't connect to the Internet -- then you can run XP safely until the end of the Universe if you want to - if your hardware runs that long.

Scaremongering by Ms.

also if people really do want to connect to the internet with XP - they are likely to do it on really ancient hardware and probably not be amongst the wealthiest in the community -- so professional criminals will look for far richer pickings elsewhere.

I'm sure they won't be interested in the odd 40 USD I've got left in a bank account when they can grab 1000's from other people. !!!

In any case 90% of Internet fraud / scams etc aren't caused by poor security of the computer OS - but in the WAY users surf the internet and give out personal info on social networking sites and open / reply to emails of unknown origin.

Downloading and installing various "Helpers"/Installers and above all those wretched toolbars are also risky choices that could easily be avoided by just unclicking all those boxes at download time.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[lehnerus2000]

Desperation

Scaremongering by Ms.

also if people really do want to connect to the internet with XP - they are likely to do it on really ancient hardware and probably not be amongst the wealthiest in the community -- so professional criminals will look for far richer pickings elsewhere.

I'm sure they won't be interested in the odd 40 USD I've got left in a bank account when they can grab 1000's from other people. !!!

In any case 90% of Internet fraud / scams etc aren't caused by poor security of the computer OS - but in the WAY users surf the internet and give out personal info on social networking sites and open / reply to emails of unknown origin.

MS is trying everything they can think of, to force/trick users into buying the awful W8 (and W8.1).
The fake "Start Button" is a perfect example.

MS is desperately trying to dethrone EA as the worst company in the US.
EA Makes Worst Company In America History, Wins Title For Second Year In A Row!

That said, Cyber-criminals will go after everyone though.
A Trojan kit has just been released for sale that targets Linux users!
Hand of Thief malware could be dangerous (if you install it) - TechRepublic

It would be amusing if the Government forced MS to support XP (or to relinquish the code, so that security companies could produce updates) since so many people are still using it.

Downloading and installing various "Helpers"/Installers and above all those wretched toolbars are also risky choices that could easily be avoided by just unclicking all those boxes at download time.

I installed an update the other day (Format Factory?) and it automatically installed some crapware (no option to avoid it).

The latest version of IZArc has 4 different crapware programs included with the installer and each one uses a different install dialogue to make it difficult to avoid installing something you didn't want.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
just don't update stuff that has all this crapware in it --use the old version until it's not possible any more and then buy something else. If people avoid all this crapware then companies won't do it.

Most current versions óf what you have on your machine will run without needing the latest update - often update / newer versions are inferior to the older versions - and they are often bloated beyond endurance with all sorts of features you don't want, need or will ever use.

("If it ain't broke don't fix it").


Getting ANY govt to have ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to do with I.T is an umitigated disaster -- how many so called "consultancy" companies - Accenture / PWC, Deloitte etc have trousered millions on failed Govt I.T projects and just walked away leaving the partners rich beyond the dreams of avarice while the ordinary taxpayer foots the bill and gets NOTHING for all the dosh spent.

I'm not sure in any case why Ms (or any other private company) should be forced to continue supporting products they've already given MORE than adequate notice that the product is going obsolete.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi there
No problem if you use XP on a Stand alone dedicated machine (say a Machine tool or a piece of Lab equipment) - or if you simply want to run legacy applications and hardware then run as a VM and don't connect to the Internet -- then you can run XP safely until the end of the Universe if you want to - if your hardware runs that long.

Scaremongering by Ms.

also if people really do want to connect to the internet with XP - they are likely to do it on really ancient hardware and probably not be amongst the wealthiest in the community -- so professional criminals will look for far richer pickings elsewhere.

I'm sure they won't be interested in the odd 40 USD I've got left in a bank account when they can grab 1000's from other people. !!!

In any case 90% of Internet fraud / scams etc aren't caused by poor security of the computer OS - but in the WAY users surf the internet and give out personal info on social networking sites and open / reply to emails of unknown origin.

Downloading and installing various "Helpers"/Installers and above all those wretched toolbars are also risky choices that could easily be avoided by just unclicking all those boxes at download time.

Cheers
jimbo

I was just waiting for you to come out of the woodwork.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
No problem if you use XP on a Stand alone dedicated machine (say a Machine tool or a piece of Lab equipment) - or if you simply want to run legacy applications and hardware then run as a VM and don't connect to the Internet -- then you can run XP safely until the end of the Universe if you want to - if your hardware runs that long.

Scaremongering by Ms.

also if people really do want to connect to the internet with XP - they are likely to do it on really ancient hardware and probably not be amongst the wealthiest in the community -- so professional criminals will look for far richer pickings elsewhere.

I'm sure they won't be interested in the odd 40 USD I've got left in a bank account when they can grab 1000's from other people. !!!

In any case 90% of Internet fraud / scams etc aren't caused by poor security of the computer OS - but in the WAY users surf the internet and give out personal info on social networking sites and open / reply to emails of unknown origin.

Downloading and installing various "Helpers"/Installers and above all those wretched toolbars are also risky choices that could easily be avoided by just unclicking all those boxes at download time.

Cheers
jimbo

I was just waiting for you to come out of the woodwork.

Hi there
sometimes we do actually have to do some work during the week !!!!!

cheers
jimbo

 

[lehnerus2000]

just don't update stuff that has all this crapware in it --use the old version until it's not possible any more and then buy something else. If people avoid all this crapware then companies won't do it.

Two things:

• That flies in the face of Security advice; Update your OS & programs regularly
• You don't know if an installer has crapware in it, until you use it

Getting ANY govt to have ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to do with I.T is an umitigated disaster -- how many so called "consultancy" companies - Accenture / PWC, Deloitte etc have trousered millions on failed Govt I.T projects and just walked away leaving the partners rich beyond the dreams of avarice while the ordinary taxpayer foots the bill and gets NOTHING for all the dosh spent.

The Government could just claim it was a "National Security" issue and it wouldn't cost them a cent (sorry, dime).

I'm not sure in any case why Ms (or any other private company) should be forced to continue supporting products they've already given MORE than adequate notice that the product is going obsolete.

I'm sure that if you asked the "average Joe on the street" about it, they wouldn't know anything about it.

If the remaining XP installs are being used by the Government and other giant companies, it would literally cost the Economy billions of dollars to update ("Money's too tight to mention ...").

Of course if it is only being used by millions ordinary people, I guess they can just rot. :sarc:

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Govt's hardly know how to even turn ON a computer - much less actually use one.

Incidentally sometimes NOT updating stuff can be the best policy !! eventually replace with a newer more fit for purpose application.

Typical security advice for computers isn't usually worth the amount of time people get involved with it. It's not the TECHNOLOGY that compromises machines but the USERS themselves (Home computers-- professional dos / other sustained attacks against corporations are a totally different matter of course.

Whether we like the new OS or not the current W8 / W8.1 system has just as good or poor (depending on your take on less than enterprise strength security systems) built in AV protection as anything out there of consumer grade so the user just needs to brush up on how they USE the internet and behave when otherwise online.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[kemperhills]

Well, I will add my two cents worth. I am not a computer expert, nor a newbie. I can do a lot with a computer.

I have used W98, W98SE, XP, Vista and am now being forced to use W7.

W98 and XP were very good OS's, IMHO, Vista was a piece of junk, W7 better than nothing. I haven't used W8 yet but my wife work for a public school district that has bought W8 and it's techs tell her it is a piece of junk. No one using W8 likes it.

But I am sure that there are those here who disagree with me. But as Walter Cronkite used to say years ago, "And that's the way it is".

Have a great day.