How safe is win xp after suoport ends?

[bogart]

I own 10 years old Toshiba laptop with Windows XP and it's running perfectly for my needs. Few days ago I received the very last update for Win XP: notification of ending support on April 8, 2014. I'm using good antivirus software. I'm wondering if using my laptop with WinXP after April8, 2014 will be LESS SAFE than currently? I'll appreciate quick response (found good deal for new laptop with Win 8.1).

[Nostradamus]

security will dwindle fast as hackers will be looking for new exploits that they know will not be patched from then on. I wouldn't rely on it for more than a month and I would also be wary of accepting emails or visiting any porn, warez, or social media after Apr 8

[cmangle]

Like Nostradamus said it will be a crap shoot, but I have loaded(downgraded from Vista) XP onto quite a few machines and DISABLED updates! This has been over quite a few years! Now this is not SOP but the point is they are running fine! I think with current/updated AV software you will be fine! I personally and on my clients systems used ESET NOD32 System security!

Most likely if you have an older laptop going to Win7 is NOT an option! MS would have you think you HAVE to move on, which means you HAVE to buy new equipment (who's in bed with WHO there?)

IMHO chris

[Benney]

Like Nostradamus said it will be a crap shoot, but I have loaded(downgraded from Vista) XP onto quite a few machines and DISABLED updates! This has been over quite a few years! Now this is not SOP but the point is they are running fine! I think with current/updated AV software you will be fine! I personally and on my clients systems used ESET NOD32 System security!

Most likely if you have an older laptop going to Win7 is NOT an option! MS would have you think you HAVE to move on, which means you HAVE to buy new equipment (who's in bed with WHO there?)

IMHO chris

So eventually your clients will have a heart attack when they eventually have to move over to W8.
I have a friend who felt the same way and was running his transcription business on XP. Then his IT guy went out of business.
He said it cost him big time to switch over to W7 not counting the learning curve.

[Nostradamus]

yeah more than likely new hardware and some new software that will not work on the new OS, if you are running an old version of Office that needs updating as well... more KA-CHING!

[Benney]

yeah more than likely new hardware and some new software that will not work on the new OS, if you are running an old version of Office that needs updating as well... more KA-CHING!


Actually some of the girls working at home for him are having to upgrade as the old office 2003 they have won't handle some of his clients formats that are in 2010 not to mention the problems with 2012 and 14.

I have no idea why some people still drive a 54 Chevy. Look cool but ride like a wooden wheel.

[Nostradamus]

I am not sure if openoffice will handle those newer MS office formats either like docx

[cmangle]

What makes you think they want to move anywhere at all? and to windows 8 of all things? ask me how many windows 8 computer I have taken back to win7!

[Benney]

What makes you think they want to move anywhere at all? and to windows 8 of all things? ask me how many windows 8 computer I have taken back to win7!


Nope not going to bother asking. I have W8.1 on seven business machines right now and find it as good as W7 if not better. I have to admit it took me some time to figure out where everything was but basically it is exactly the same.

I like 8.1 and figured I might as well get used to it as I hate living in the past.

[1boxman]

Unfortunately..most ask why they still use XP in business . Answer to most of that, like ATM's ..It is the software markers . There coding is not up to even run on new EI ..Which IE blows...but besides that it is only encoded to us IE . Plus the cost of the hardware ..thanks to Microsoft .

Most business are on there server or use an online web base programs. Which are set to dedicate to those sites.

You can run them fine . Unfortunately you cannot stop those form going to unwanted site ..which is were all the vulnerable infections will be .

But when a ATM is running XP ...my guess they will be targeted and so on . I doubt the hackers will waste there time on home users pc .Other than what is still floating around out there .

Even if you want to spend the cash to upgrade because you think you need too...If you surf the porn sites and keep clicking on the wrong things etc...you WILL get infected .If you run an O/S and not up to date,same thing . Plain and simple .

[Benney]

Unfortunately..most ask why they still use XP in business . Answer to most of that, like ATM's ..It is the software markers . There coding is not up to even run on new EI ..Which IE blows...but besides that it is only encoded to us IE . Plus the cost of the hardware ..thanks to Microsoft .

Most business are on there server or use an online web base programs. Which are set to dedicate to those sites.

You can run them fine . Unfortunately you cannot stop those form going to unwanted site ..which is were all the vulnerable infections will be .

But when a ATM is running XP ...my guess they will be targeted and so on . I doubt the hackers will waste there time on home users pc .Other than what is still floating around out there .

Even if you want to spend the cash to upgrade because you think you need too...If you surf the porn sites and keep clicking on the wrong things etc...you WILL get infected .If you run an O/S and not up to date,same thing . Plain and simple .

I agree with you but I like to stay current. Just my way of doing things but I wouldn't replace things untill they are worn out or become unproductive because they are so slow time goes backwards.

I have no need to browse porn sites so I'm not exposing myself their. lol

[cmangle]

Benney said,"Nope not going to bother asking. I have W8.1 on seven business machines right now and find it as good as W7 if not better. I have to admit it took me some time to figure out where everything was but basically it is exactly the same. I like 8.1 and figured I might as well get used to it as I hate living in the past."

Hmmm, Windows 8 is so good (BAD) that most if not all OEM desktop/laptop mfrs took a BIG hit in sales with the advent of Win8!
Windows 8 is so good(BAD) Sony stopped their Vaio laptop line due to decreased sales partially/mostly because of Windows 8!
Windows 8 is so good (BAD) that even MicroSoft realized they F'ed ups (as in ME, Vista) that they released 8.1 to reintroduce the START button!

Whereas YOU don't want to live in the past,(which is fine that's your call) A LOT of people liked their "Start" button, and how egotistical is it of Microsoft to say, "We will decide what the people want!" Well they don't learn their lessons very well (ME, Vista). And this time around they P!$$ed off a lot of OEM's with THEIR idea of what should be. I think it's a given that practically ALL agree Win 8 was written for mobile,Tablet devices and not for the home/laptop user!

1boxman are you serious, ATM's use Win XP ? Not here in the states, they use proprietary software NOT MS OS's of any kind! An if a hacker wanted to get in (i.e. the TARGET store Kaptoxa/POS attack) it won't matter if the device is running XP or Win7 or Win8, unless you are saying Win 8 is completely Virus proof? Now that's Apples claim which we all know to be bunk!

When it comes to hacker attacks No OS or Antivirus is bulletproof! Some are a lot better than others. But in the case of the Kaptoxa attack NO ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM detected the intrusion. That's how well the virus was written, and that attack was actually the combination of two individuals!
The person who wrote the intrusion method (which he offered up for sale on the internet) and the person who attached the POS payload!