Windows XP | Dangerous after pausing Security Essentials updates
Windows XP just became more dangerous than ever after Microsoft stopped updating anti-malware on the ancient platform.
The company has stopped "serving" updates to Windows XP that have the Security Essentials security application installed.
Thus, the malware removal tool is no longer supported, while support for the operating system itself has stopped since April 2014 for those who did not pay extra to secure upgrades.
"Please note that real-time protection products have limited effectiveness on computers that do not have the latest security updates, and your computer is still at risk," Redmond says.
"We recommend that you complete your transition to a supported operating system as soon as possible so that you can receive regular security updates and ensure your computer is protected from malicious attacks."
Of course there are many who do not take Microsoft's recommendations seriously, as shown by the Netmarketshare.com graph that shows that Windows XP lives and reigns.Netmarketshare Windows XP
Windows XP 's market share is still very high, surpassing Windows Vista, Windows 8, MacOS and Linux.
The operating system holds 12% of the market share, which means 180 million users, according to netmarketshare.com.
Most of the remaining Windows XP users are in Pakistan and Egypt.
In the most recent Redmond statistics (published in 2014), Tim Rains from Microsoft's security department states that Windows XP is six times more vulnerable to hacking than Windows 8 and twice as vulnerable as the popular Windows 7.
Andra Zaharia, from CSIS Heimdal Security in Denmark, said Microsoft should reconsider providing updates to the 180 million users at risk of attacks.
"From now on, it will be easier than ever for cybercriminals to discover vulnerabilities and infiltrate the Windows XP without being detected. And we can say with certainty that no user can afford to take that risk."
source: iguru
