Microsoft Plans to Stop Updating Anti-Virus Software on Windows XP

[Matsuda]

Microsoft is doing its best to force Windows XP users to upgrade and in an attempt to emphasize the risks of staying with this old platform, the company is now planning to stop releasing new virus definitions for Security Essentials.

Basically, if you continue running Windows XP on your computer, Security Essentials won’t get any new updates after April 8, 2014, which makes the operating system even more vulnerable.

Here’s what a company spokesperson said in a statement for ZDNet:

“Microsoft will not guarantee updates of our antimalware signature and engine after the XP end of support date of April 8, 2014. Running antivirus on out of support operating systems is not an adequate solution to help protect against threats.

“Running a well-protected solution starts with using modern software and hardware designed to help protect against today’s threat landscape.

“In addition, Microsoft recommends best practices to protect your PC such as: 1) running up to date antivirus, 2) regularly applying security updates for all software installed, and 3) using modern software that has advanced security technologies and is supported with regular security updates.”

While Microsoft hasn’t made a decision on this, it’s pretty clear that it’s ready to step to a much more aggressive campaign to move users off Windows XP.

At this point, XP is powering more than 30 percent of the computers worldwide, with Microsoft planning to cut its market share down to 13 percent before the retirement date.

And still, even though Microsoft doesn’t plan to update its anti-virus software on Windows XP, it’s not the end of the world for those sticking to the 11-year-old platform.

Third-party anti-virus protection will continue to be available and until now, several companies have already expressed their intention to keep their apps running on Windows XP even after Microsoft officially discontinues the operating system.



View: Original Article

[Zigen]

So as long as say, Kaspersky continues to supports XP, would it still be safe to use it even after microsoft stops supporting it?

[smallhagrid]

mikr0$0ft....fail.

[emerglines]

Ultimate fail M$ will fail forever !

[Lyon275]

:wtf:

[Lacius]

So as long as say, Kaspersky continues to supports XP, would it still be safe to use it even after microsoft stops supporting it?

It would be safer than using Microsoft Security Essentials or no antivirus at all, but it would still be unsafe to use XP, with or without an updating AV like Kaspersky, because any operating system exploits will go unpatched.

[VileTouch]

just grab a FREE "pirated" copy of your favorite linux distro and you can keep using your old computer as always and not have to worry about all the doom and gloom microsoft is preaching to force you to buy new hardware...problem solved!

[ricktendo]

You can still download and install the definition updates manually

[sanjoa]

:rofl: @Microsoft. You can use an antivirus app from other vendors

[banned]

it would still be unsafe to use XP, with or without an updating AV like Kaspersky, because any operating system exploits will go unpatched.

There will always be unpatched exploits in every version of Windows (aka zero-day). It's not a huge concern if one practices safe browsing habits.

I could run Windows XP RTM (no patches) and still avoid infection, just to prove this point.

Edited October 31, 2013 by banned

[Lacius]

it would still be unsafe to use XP, with or without an updating AV like Kaspersky, because any operating system exploits will go unpatched.

There will always be unpatched exploits in every version of Windows (aka zero-day). It's not a huge concern if one practices safe browsing habits.

I could run Windows XP RTM (no patches) and still avoid infection, just to prove this point.

It's actually a pretty big concern when exploits become known and commonly used but are never patched; that is not something that occurs with every version of Windows. I suggest a refresher on how security works.

And you're right. Safe browsing habits are a first line of defense (minus disconnecting from the internet permanently). However, if that first line of defense fails, I'd like my OS not to be vulnerable to known and common exploits. Your claim that you could run Windows XP RTM and avoid infection is as meaningless as me saying I could drive my car without an airbag and avoid injury.

[banned]

(minus disconnecting from the internet permanently)

You nailed it. That's the only way to be truly safe with any version of Windows.

[Lacius]

(minus disconnecting from the internet permanently)

You nailed it. That's the only way to be truly safe with any version of Windows.

I never said browsing with an up-to-date OS made one 100% safe. Driving a car with an airbag doesn't make one 100% safe. It is, however, exponentially safer than using no protection whatsoever. I don't care how safe your browsing habits are or how good a driver you are. It would be moronic to drive around without a seat belt nor an airbag, no matter how good a driver you think you are, and it would be moronic to use an OS that's vulnerable to known exploits with no chance of getting them patched, no matter how good you might think your safe browsing habits are.

This might come as a shock to you, but there are variables safe drivers and safe browsing habits sometimes don't account for. Consider infected banner ads on the New York Times homepage or uTorrent's servers having had the potential to be hacked and publish updates (manual or automatic) with malware attached analogous to a drunk driver sharing the road with you.

[banned]

This might come as a shock to you...

About as shocking as the fact that banner ads and automatic-update can be blocked.

[Sonar]

XP has to die at some point, They need to upgrade to windows 7 "lite" edition.

I do believe to move forward in technology the old has to be shut off!

Windows 7 lite editions are getting smaller and smaller in size and have no affect on system.

[smallhagrid]

Sonar - it seems that many folks here simply do not GET the concept of personal choice.

XP happens to be my personal choice right now - until I choose something else when I want to.

NOTHING of any importance is being shut off; 'support' from m$ is useless and meaningless for a great many XP users.

Regarding personal choice:

Perhaps you and your family are sitting down to a nice meal of chicken and mashed potatoes and boiled carrots - made just the way your whole family likes these things.

-BUT-

Before you are able to have a bite of this - men from some big company come and force it away from you.

Instead they place in front of you=> liver with lima bean casserole.

This is nothing any of you ever ate before and would not choose to eat either.

Your family is told they have NO CHOICE and WILL eat this nasty sh*t every day from now on, like it or not.

Would you sit and eat such nasty garbage willingly ?!?

I would not - and will not be told by anyone either what OS it is that I MUST use - it is MY choice what OS to use.

And what is something of windows newer than XP to me (and many others too) right now ???

It is liver with lima bean casserole.

No thank you - you folks who like it can have ALL of it - and if you like this I am very happy for you.

I will continue to take a pass on such things until and IF the time comes that I am ready to make a change...

By my own choice.

[DarkSlayer]

I still think that Kaspersky will handle things just fine...

[visualbuffs]

i just use xp for gaming... windows 7 is my default and favorite os..

april 2014 will be the death of xp ... no more windows update

common sense

if there's no windows update

there's no update to microsoft security essential because it's parently related and create by the microsoft

Edited November 1, 2013 by visualbuffs

[jackieo]

WTF? LIKE WE ALL CANT BE CYBERLOCKERED OUT OF EXISTANCE ANYWAY?

FUNK-ALL THIS FEAR MONGERING BULL CRAP EVEN IF IT IS REAL THE % YOULL GET HACKED ON XP IS SLIM AND NONE.

OH WAIT YOU RUN WIN7 - CYBERLOCKER.- CASE CLOSED. THATS FEAR MY FRIEND

ooh i might lose the last 2 months of downloading stuff, off the interwebs.....

np, ill just re-download everything after i format and reinstall no big deal.

Edited November 1, 2013 by jackieo

[Zigen]

Hehe so many different opinions here, I suppose we'll find out next year when Microsoft finally pulls the plug on XP. Long live XP!!!

[calguyhunk]

XP has been on the market for 12 years. Just 'bout every major loophole has been discovered and plugged by now for sure. The chances of hackers finding another major vulnerability is mathematically negligible. MS and their cronies - while being technically and politically correct - are for all practical purposes spreading FUD's about it's vulnerability for obvious financial reasons. :angry:

Regular users need not worry about this impending end-of-support for XP for the most part. If you have an old PC and cannot afford a hardware upgrade to switch to Win7/8 - either switch over to Linux if you're really worried about the EOL'ing of XP or stay put with your trusty old XP. Just keep your AV and browser updated 'cuz almost all of your threats will come through that route or through rouge downloads, toolbars, Browser Addons, E-Mail attachments, rouge Registry Cleaners or Anti-Virus software etc. if you don't know your way 'round the internetz. The best protection continues to remain your brain. So use it before clicking on 'Download' or 'Install'. :yes:

[jackieo]

I think the community will support XP simply because it is the OS of choice for many users who refuse to (or are unable to) upgrade.

Myself, i built a desktop box in 2005 with the (then new) AMD 64 Winchester processor running XP SP3, and i bought a laptop 4 years ago that came installed with Win7, that i had "downgraded" ( i considered it to be an UPGRADE) to XP-

Now i have 2 separate hard drives for that laptop- one with XP installed and another with Win7- I kind-of tried an experiment to only use 7 and see if i could live with it? OR would I want to go back to XP? I can say with kind confidence I have not felt the need, the urge, or desire to go back to XP...

( which surprised me) because I really like XP and never thought i would ever stray from it for any reason...why would I?

I think Win7 is mature OS now, and I am quite comfortable with it, (as it runs virtually all my XP apps ) although 4 years ago, I was not happy with it at all.

Win 8 is another story altogether. im not there yet. ( i dont own a system running it)

Edited November 1, 2013 by jackieo

[CPowell46]

Since Security Essentials is pretty much worthless anyway, who cares?

And I no more believe Microsoft's dire warnings about the flood of malware that will sweep over XP users when "support" ends, than I believed their dire warnings about attempting to "downgrade" from Windows 7 to XP.

[MidnightDistortions]

It doesn't matter whether MS drops support or not, if your smart enough to know how to use an outdated OS and not having vital information lost from hackers. You can use Linux for the internet, you can still use XP for other non essential stuff. You don't have to pay for a new OS if you don't want to or have the money for it.

[Lacius]

This might come as a shock to you...

About as shocking as the fact that banner ads and automatic-update can be blocked.

You seem to have missed the point entirely, and you don't seem to realize that a.) I didn't exclude non-automatic program updates in my example, and b.) ad-blocking is not an example of a safe browsing habit; it's an example of automatic content-blocking analogous to a real-time antivirus or Windows Updates. Thank you for agreeing with me.