The Growing Security Risks of Windows XP

It is hard to believe that as Microsoft struggles to increase usage of their newest operating system Windows 8 many computer users are still chugging along with Windows XP. Windows XP was released 12 years ago on October 25, 2001. 12 years is an eternity in the tech world. The success of Windows XP can not be understated that is for sure. The operating systems that followed, Windows Vista (2007), Windows 7 (2009) and now Windows 8 (2012) are all huge improvements on XP and this refusal of many to move away from a decade old operating system confuses me.  However many computers users have become so comfortable with XP that change has often been difficult and slow. Microsoft is also a little to blame here as well. Being caught between a rock and a hard place they have continued to support XP at the same time as promoting their newer operating systems. However even this is about to end.

All of this being said, what follows should also be considered for users still relying on XP.

Computerworld reports that hackers have started storing up any fresh Windows XP exploits they find and are preparing to unleash them on unsuspecting XP users as soon as Microsoft stops supporting the operating system next year. Microsoft security expert Jason Fossen tells Computerworld that hackers who discover new exploits over the next few months may be able to charge twice what they’re charging now if they sell them after Windows XP support ends.

This essentially leaves Windows XP users with two options: They can pay Microsoft a high premium to continue supporting XP at their business or they can upgrade to newer platforms such as Windows 7 or Windows 8. For home users there are no support option for XP as of April 8, 2014.

More than a third of all desktop computers still use Windows XP so this could potentially be a big problem for users who do not understand that they will have to make some kind of change by next spring.