Windows XP is on its last legs as Microsoft has issued a 90-day countdown to end future support for the popular operating system, along with Office 2003. This move opens up users to potential security risks if they haven't upgraded to a newer version of the Windows operating system. At the time of writing, Windows XP is 12 years old and still holds the spot as one of the most popular Windows operating systems. It's even more popular than Windows 8, an operating system that is struggling to find its footing among consumers and businesses alike. Versions of Windows available right now with support from Microsoft includes Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
Furthermore, Windows XP users should expect Microsoft to discontinue the company's Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on April 8, 2014, the very day Windows XP will lose all future support, according to the company.
This move may be a good thing for Microsoft, but not for businesses that do not have the budget flow to upgrade to a newer version of Windows.
It costs Microsoft to keep Windows XP alive, which is understandable for the need to shut it down completely. However, what Microsoft can do here is charge small businesses a yearly fee for future security updates rather than make life difficult. Another good idea here is to make Windows 7 more affordable for small businesses and startups, this could do away with the need to stick with a 12 year old operating system that is showing its age.
Large businesses are in luck though, as, for $200 per PC, Microsoft will provide security fixes, according to a report from Computer World. This program is called Custom Support, and it will run beyond 2014.
"Legacy products or out-of-support service packs covered under Custom Support will continue to receive security hotfixes for vulnerabilities labeled as 'Critical' by the MSRC [Microsoft Security Response Center]," Microsoft said in a Custom Support data sheet.
In a post talking about the end of Windows XP's security support, Microsoft had the following to say:
"If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP."
