Microsoft Plans to Stop Updating Anti-Virus Software on Windows XP

[Starbuck]

Microsoft is doing its best to force Windows XP users to upgrade and in an attempt to emphasize the risks of staying with this old platform, the company is now planning to stop releasing new virus definitions for Security Essentials.

 

Basically, if you continue running Windows XP on your computer, Security Essentials won’t get any new updates after April 8, 2014, which makes the operating system even more vulnerable.

 

Here’s what a company spokesperson said in a statement for ZDNet:

 

“Microsoft will not guarantee updates of our antimalware signature and engine after the XP end of support date of April 8, 2014. Running antivirus on out of support operating systems is not an adequate solution to help protect against threats.

 

“Running a well-protected solution starts with using modern software and hardware designed to help protect against today’s threat landscape.

 

“In addition, Microsoft recommends best practices to protect your PC such as: 1) running up to date antivirus, 2) regularly applying security updates for all software installed, and 3) using modern software that has advanced security technologies and is supported with regular security updates.”

 

While Microsoft hasn’t made a decision on this, it’s pretty clear that it’s ready to step to a much more aggressive campaign to move users off Windows XP.

 

At this point, XP is powering more than 30 percent of the computers worldwide, with Microsoft planning to cut its market share down to 13 percent before the retirement date.

 

And still, even though Microsoft doesn’t plan to update its anti-virus software on Windows XP, it’s not the end of the world for those sticking to the 11-year-old platform.

 

Third-party anti-virus protection will continue to be available and until now, several companies have already expressed their intention to keep their apps running on Windows XP even after Microsoft officially discontinues the operating system.

 

 

Source:

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Plans-to-Stop-Updating-Anti-Virus-Software-on-Windows-XP-395915.shtml