Windows XP: Microsoft’s ticking time bomb??

(PC Pro) The final deadline for Windows XP support will act as a starting pistol for hackers, as they target hundreds of millions of users on unpatched systems.

Microsoft has already granted the 12-year-old OS several stays of execution, but the firm has said it will finally end extended support on 8 April 2014 – despite the fact that XP remains the second-most popular OS, with almost a third of PCs running it.

These hundreds of millions of desktops and laptops will be vulnerable to hackers once XP stops receiving security updates, with Microsoft warning earlier this year that hackers could use patches issued for Windows 7 or Windows 8 to scout for XP exploits.

"The very first month that Microsoft releases security updates for supported versions of Windows, attackers will reverse-engineer those updates, find the vulnerabilities and test Windows XP to see if it shares [them]," wrote Tim Rains, the director of Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing group.

Microsoft noted that XP shared 30 security holes with Windows 7 and Windows 8 between July 2012 and July 2013, giving hackers ample opportunity to reverse-engineer vulnerabilities.

Failure to migrate could leave businesses open to infections, denial-of-service attacks and data theft.  Aside from the inconvenience and costs to address the attack, companies can also face fines.  For example, American regulators have warned that banks that fail to upgrade their software from XP will be liable if, for example, customer credit-card data is stolen.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/386077/windows-xp-microsoft-s-ticking-time-bomb#ixzz2oLTmTKWT

(Time - Techland) - If your computer still runs XP, you’ll want to make sure you upgrade your operating system before April 8, 2014 to make sure you stay protected. Microsoft suggests that older computers may struggle to run the most recent Windows 8.1, so upgrading to Windows 7 may be your best option if you must keep your current computer. Microsoft has stopped selling Windows 7, but many retailers such as Amazon should continue to have upgrade copies available well into the New Year.  http://techland.time.com/2013/12/27/windows-xp-to-become-a-hackers-dream-in-2014-experts-warn/

Microsoft site on End of Win XP:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help