Users can, of course, continue to have their favorite operating system installed on their computers if they want, but it will be vulnerable to malicious attacks
One of the most popular versions - if not the most popular of all - of the Windows operating system, XP, after almost 13 years of life, will be "naked" from security updates and technical support from Microsoft starting tomorrow, April 8, which will make it much more vulnerable to malicious attacks. In essence, users are left alone - with whatever cybersecurity solutions they choose - to deal with hackers and other internet threats.
Users can, of course, continue to have their favorite operating system installed on their computers if they want. However, they will no longer be able to rely on the periodic updates that have closed the occasional security "holes" and will now have to "bet" only on the capabilities of any anti-virus program they have (which capabilities will be smaller without Microsoft's regular "patches" to its system code).
Analysts estimate that Windows XP is still "running" on a very large number of computers worldwide (from one-fifth to one-third, depending on different estimates), as many users - individuals, companies and public services - had not yet found a reason to upgrade to the next versions of Windows (Vista, 7 and 8). Now, however, they are faced with the pressing dilemma: keep Windows 7 (with the associated risk) or upgrade the operating system to the next version of Windows (which is not always possible for older computers with less processing power and memory) or buy a computer with a modern operating system installed (usually Windows 8).
Concerns have been raised in particular about the security of several bank ATMs that still operate with Windows XP. Also, for several small and medium-sized businesses that have become "clinged" to this particular operating system, usually due to a lack of interest or money to continuously invest in new and more secure technologies (given, after all, that XP was perfectly adequate in every respect, as long as it was technically covered by Microsoft).
Overall, Windows - in all its versions - "powers" approximately 90% of computers worldwide.
Source: protothema.gr
