Thursday, February 27, 2014

Microsoft Warns Again On Windows XP Sunset

Redmond-based Microsoft is continuing its campaign to urge users who are still using its ten year old Windows XP operating system to upgrade--or face a flurry of security troubles. According to Microsoft, nearly 21 percent of computers worldwide are still using Windows XP, based on data from Stat Counter, despite Microsoft's announcement that it will no longer provide security updates for Windows XP and Office 2003 as of April 8, 2014. Microsoft is urging users--particularly small businesses--to upgrade to Windows 8.1 and Office 365 ahead of the sunset of Windows XP support. Microsoft had earlier announced that it will end all support for Windows XP, which it introduced ten years ago. The move has been likened to Y2K for companies who are still running many, legacy applications on Windows XP, and apparently the move will put retailers at risk--due to many point of sale (POS) and automated teller (ATM) machines which still use XP.