Here’s an item for your 2014 calendar. April 1 – Confirm we have no computers using Windows XP in operation at home or work. Now April Fool’s Day may seem like a long time off as you read this, but running Windows XP after Microsoft ceases Windows XP support means that you are behaving like a fool. Be aware that Windows XP’s “end of life” is coming in April. (OK, it is really April 8, but you might have trouble getting any IT help that week and isn’t April 1 really easier to remember? Besides some lawyers like to buy new computers at year’s end for tax reasons.)

So for those of you who have used XP all these years, avoiding the pain of the Vista and the first release of Windows 8, why would I call you a fool for keeping on keeping on? Because the end of support means no security upgrades and many of us, including Microsoft, are predicting a huge malware spike in the days following April 8. It really makes sense, doesn’t it? A malware designer who has developed some atrocious thing to steal credit card numbers, hijack your computer or just make it inoperable who releases it now would likely be stymied by a patch or fix released by Microsoft the very next  “Patch Tuesday.” But after April 8, it will be clear sailing.

Read original article


Tags: