Users of Windows XP platform now a bigger risk: Microsoft has discontinued support for anti-virus protection, operating system.
The term of technical support for Windows XP ended April 8, 2014. From this day Microsoft stopped releasing updates to the OS, including those relating to security. However, Microsoft within one year after the expiration of platform support protected Windows XP users against new threats. In Redmond explained that he made this decision in order to help organizations to upgrade to a fresh version of Windows.
Starting today, Windows XP users will no longer be able to download anti-virus products Security Essentials and Malicious Software Removal Tool. Updates for programs already loaded-the defenders will be issued for a limited period of time. The company warned about the increased risk of infection of computers that do not have the latest security updates, and recommended to switch to using a supported Microsoft platforms.
According to the specialist Danish company Heimdal Security of Andry Zechariah, Microsoft should reconsider its decision to terminate antivirus support, because this way the Corporation puts at risk of cyber attacks nearly 180 million users.
“Of course, we wish that Microsoft extended support for Windows XP for a longer period of time […], but since this has not happened, it is important for users to understand that continued use of the platform may lead to loss of financial and personal information, as well as critical corporate documents. Now attackers will be much easier to detect gaps in the platform and unnoticed to sneak in the system,” said Zacharias.
Meanwhile, the anti-virus manufacturers intend to continue updating products designed to protect PCs running Windows XP, even long after the period of official support. For example, corporate clients “Kaspersky Lab” intends to serve until 2016, and consumers by 2018.
