end to support of XP in 2014

[volund]

Hi,

what does it exactly mean, that support for XP will end?

no more updates? or worse?

I mean (being a noob), no more updates when it is working fine, is fine with me....but i guess it is not just that.

thanks for any explanation that will not cause an immediate 'depression'

[Ned Seagoon]

Originally Posted by volund

end to support of XP in 2014

In the perfect world it could mean that the maker, Micro$oft, has, in the 12+ years since it's original release, finally found all the bugs and security exploits that were built in to the XP operating system and as a consequence no longer need to provide fixes for these.

Unfortunately, I suspect that not to be the case. I guess really it means we need to make money out of all you users out there, and we're leaving you in the lurch with this one, so buy a new one, suckers.

[SpywareDr]

Tim Rains - Microsoft > The Risk of Running Windows XP After Support Ends April 2014

...
As for the security mitigations that Windows XP Service Pack 3 has, they were state of the art when they were developed many years ago. But we can see from data published in the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report that the security mitigations built into Windows XP are no longer sufficient to blunt many of the modern day attacks we currently see. The data we have on malware infection rates for Windows operating systems indicates that the infection rate for Windows XP is significantly higher than those for modern day operating systems like Windows 7 and Windows 8.
...

Fred Langa: PC security after XP’s official end of life

...
In Microsoft’s parlance, “end of life” means that the company will no longer write and issue security patches for XP. Many of those patches fix newly revealed vulnerabilities within the operating system itself. But after XP’s EOL, any unpatched security holes will go unfixed. (See Microsoft’s explanation; the April EOL also applies to Office 2003.)
...
Despite extensive patching, XP is still far from perfect. Given its age and the number of XP systems still in use, the OS will remain an attractive target, possibly for years to come. In other words, when Microsoft stops writing patches for XP, it’ll be open season for hackers.

Using good third-party apps and tools, such as fully current browsers and anti-malware software, will help keep you safe — but only up to a point. They’ll do little or nothing to correct fundamental vulnerabilities in the base operating system.

There’s also declining third-party support for XP. Few mainstream software vendors will continue investing in a dying market — even if that market is still huge. Moreover, the quantity of tools designed for XP is in sharp decline, a trend that will only accelerate.

There’s no way to avoid the inevitable: after next April, XP will be far less safe than any of the more modern Windows versions. XP was truly great, but its day is done.

[volund]

i appreciate the explanations.

so, basically, i should be able to continue for a little while then with XP with added malware fighting software etc, but will have to upgrade to W7 or W8 somewhere in the future....

this is sad. i disliked Vista, W7 (basically Vista imo) and even more the so called intuitive W8 (i just keep wondering who's 'intuition' was the basis for that...) ... and deliberately downgraded every PC and laptop I bought to XP, since Vista came out.

dark days are ahead and a memorial service for XP is in place.
after all, XP was the best of the worst MS could deliver...

anyways, thanks for the replies!

[SpywareDr]

The very foundation Windows XP is built upon is no longer strong enough to help keep many modern day malware attacks at bay. Think of it kinda like a really old rusty car, or rotted wood, or even an old feeble animal. There is simply not enough of a solid foundation to support any more "fixes".

[renegade600]

Originally Posted by volund

i appreciate the explanations.

so, basically, i should be able to continue for a little while then with XP with added malware fighting software etc, but will have to upgrade to W7 or W8 somewhere in the future....

this is sad. i disliked Vista, W7 (basically Vista imo) and even more the so called intuitive W8 (i just keep wondering who's 'intuition' was the basis for that...) ... and deliberately downgraded every PC and laptop I bought to XP, since Vista came out.

dark days are ahead and a memorial service for XP is in place.
after all, XP was the best of the worst MS could deliver...

anyways, thanks for the replies!

you should still be able to use it as long as you follow safe surfin and dont do anything risky - like p2p, porn, torrents, open spam emails etc...

but it will get to the point that you will not be able to find drivers for devices and peripheral. In addition, security software such as your antivirus will no longer be updated after a while. think win98. how much can you find for it? It may be time to bite the bullet and give win7 another shot since you said you been downgrading. At least it is not as bad as win8.

[volund]

Thanks...

so, W7 is worse as W8?

I guess no need to get hopes up for a W9 then....probably again worse, since that is the trend....

is there any really workable alternative for a noob, or am i just stuck with MS?

[SpywareDr]

Zorin OS (free) is a multi-functional operating system designed specifically for Windows users who want to have easy and smooth access to Linux. It is based on Ubuntu which is the most popular desktop Linux operating system in the world.

[volund]

Doc, tnx. will start reading up on that.

[SpywareDr]

You're welcome.

[WindowsXPer]

Wow, there are alot of people who hate Windows Vista, 7 and 8 crap and I am one of them. I would stick with XP & Ubuntu. My college STILL uses XP! (except for the art corridor, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop they have Macs)

[renegade600]

Originally Posted by WindowsXPer

Wow, there are alot of people who hate Windows Vista, 7 and 8 crap and I am one of them. I would stick with XP & Ubuntu. My college STILL uses XP! (except for the art corridor, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop they have Macs)

I upgraded from xp to vista to win7 before I got rid of the computer. On another computer I upgraded from win7 to win8 to 8.1. The reality was, I had very few problems with any of the upgrades. Yes there were some driver problems and some software issues but I was able to work through them but I treated it as a learning experience.

I personally think vista was released as a throwaway operating system. It was used to forced computer manufacturers to start building more powerful computers so when win7 was released, there would be far fewer problems. I think microsoft did the exact same thing with winme. It was also a throwaway operating system preparing the way for xp.

Not sure about win 8 yet. IMO, out of all the operating systems I ever ran (including Gem, linux, android, ios and dos). it was the worse because there were so many changes that I actually had to use help to figure some of the hidden secrets out. This leads me to believe that the main reason for all the hate is because the newer windows operating systems are so different . Users just don't like to learn new things, they just want to use their computer for the things they need to do with as little hassle as possible.

xp had its day and it will be missed. I am disappointed that microsoft sees fit that when the end comes, they will be taking all of the updates, mse, etc offline trying to force those who may have to reinstall for whatever reason to upgrade.

[SpywareDr]

"There is a tipping point where dated software and hardware can no longer defend against modern-day threats and increasingly sophisticated cyber-criminals." - Tim Rains, director of Microsoft Trustworthy Computing.

[Ned Seagoon]

"He would say that wouldn't he?"
With apologies to Mandy Rice-Davies

[SpywareDr]

It is the truth . . . no matter who says it.