Posted on 04/08/2015 5:05:37 PM PDT by Utilizer
Even though the deadline for any type of support for Windows XP was up last April, many organisations are still using the venerable operating system to power their PCs and the applications that run on them.
But XP was never a truly secure OS to begin with and despite numerous patches over the years, new vulnerabilities have been found. Of course, since April 2014, no more updates have been provided by Microsoft on general release and this has left anyone still running XP very much exposed to hacking and security breaches.
According to figures from IT security firm Secunia taken from scans by its Personal Software Inspector, around 15.17% of computers around the world are still using Windows XP. Nearly 18% of users are still running with an old version of Internet Explorer.
(Excerpt) Read more at techradar.com ...
Security is of course still a concern, but even if Micro-Squish is no longer supporting the private versions of XP, the Open Source community has always been vigilant about discovering and providing fixes for any problems with it.
This article questions whether business owners can continue with their existing software or play it "safe" (?) and upgrade despite the price hit required, among other concerns.
No.
I still use XP and thus far have not had problems (that I am aware of).
*Laughs until red in face*
*beathes in*
*Dies laughing*
These new systems will not operate old scanners and printers. It is a lot cheaper to stay with XP and a lot less frustrating.
I just got new windows. It stormed last night and NO LEAKS! I’m happy with the windows I have. No need to upgraded. If they get hacked, somebody is gonna get shot.
BTTT
As long as none of the wired networked computers never ever see the light of the Internet never ever, and there are no wireless units allowed access to the network...yes.
Yes.
Install proper firewalling and client based products.
Then transmit vital on VPN.
Same here. To date, every new version of the ‘doze OS has consistently failed to prove any real improvement over any I already have.
I have never seen a new version that 1) runs faster, 2) is more stable, 3) requires less memory, or 4) has a smaller footprint (takes up less space on the drive).
My programs already work quite well on the current ‘doze platform that they require, and I have no plans on purchasing a questionable “upgrade” that not only requires more money be spent on the new OS but that usually breaks most of the previously-installed programs I need, with the demand just down the road to also purchase newer versions that are compatible with it, with the understanding that if I do not then eventually the programs I currently use will not function in the newest version.
Pretty sure I’ll pass on the “upgrade” offering.
well I have a lot of expensive old music software and hardware invested in XP that won’t port. What I had planned to do was buy a new Win 8 PC for surfin and relegade the XP to off-the-net music stuff. however I don’t like Win 8 that much so I keep deferring buying a new PC. Plus what I have still works fine and it is a hassle to change to a new PC etc
Interested in others’ opinions though
There are probably NT and OS2 servers running and running..
XP as a business platform.. To a certain size of growth.. OK..
The vast majority of the world’s ATMs run on XPpro...the banks and financial institutions owning/managing those XPpro ATMs have support agreements with Microsoft.
Can these open source patches be applied to actual XP or do you have to be running a private version?
I would imagine those ATMs are not hooked up to the public internet. They may be on an isolated subnet, but it is probably tightly controlled by the bank, with routing rules that only allow a limited number of IPs to access it.
I have the oldest computer at my company and I use XP on it. I pretty much never get viruses or malware infections. I think once three years ago I had one that I quickly got rid of. Everyone else who has constant problems in that department is on Windows 7 or 8, and the same users have the issue over and over again.
The main factor in security is not which version of Windows, but the behavior of the users. The ones who are going to non-work related websites, downloading software they don’t need, trying to find free music or movies, opening every email attachment or clicking every link without thinking about it. They are the biggest “security hole” of all, and if it were up to me, I’d fire them the third time they had to come to me to get their computer fixed.
I have several high-end CAD and CAM programs (like AutoCAD and OrCAD -types) that will only work on XP. Some of the Modeling software at the most basic level START at about 35,000 $US, with others even higher. Each module of functionality added to the base program went for roughly 300 dollars per unit and up depending upon its area of useage. In 1990 dollars, not 2015. Probably cost more now, if a version was even available for the “newest” ‘doze OS.
I’m “graduating” from XP to Win 7 this weekend.
Not because I want to, but only because my new CAD program won’t run on XP.
Dammit.
Which is why I’m keeping an XP machine...
Not certain what you mean in your question. My experience has been that when a vulnerability was discovered then the ‘nix community spread the word and then pitched in to develop a fix for it, testing it against all versions and posting which patch worked in which OS. They always tried to develop a single patch that worked across all variations but even if not possible then the various patches were posted on numerous sites with appropriate notes as to which one(s) worked on which versions.
Many times the Redmond crowd disliked admitting that there was even a problem at times, and either quietly included it in their next Security Update or simply pointed people to the already-posted fixes.
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