Windows XP End-of-Life Retirement After Effects

It was just a short four months ago that we reported on Windows XP no longer being supported by Microsoft and since the Windows XP end-of-life date, the aftereffects have reached far and wide. In fact, how the global computing community reacted to the operating system no longer being supported can even be surprising. Here are some of the most interesting stories we’ve discovered.

Large Corporations are Paying Microsoft for Extended Windows XP Support

Despite Microsoft warning organizations well in advance of the end-of-life date for Windows XP, there are a substantial number of organizations that have yet to upgrade their operating systems. Some, like the British and Dutch governments, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Navy are paying Microsoft hefty fees for independent extended support for the obsolete operating system. While the IRS is expected to have their upgrades completed later this year, the UK government isn’t expecting its organizations to complete their upgrades until April 2015. Click here to learn more.

Banks are Paying Big for Windows XP Upgrades for ATM Machines

Here’s a surprising fact for you: 95% of bank ATMs run on the Windows XP platform. The problem with this scenario is that the banks that don’t upgrade their ATMs are going to be more at risk of suffering cyberattacks. But, for those banks that do upgrade their operating systems, they can expect to do so at the tune of $1,000 to $3,500 a piece! It’s an expensive project because many ATMs will need to have all new computer equipment installed to support a newer operating system. Click here to learn more.

1 in 5 Small-to-Medium Sized Businesses are Still Using Windows XP

According to a survey by the antivirus firm Bitdefender, approximately 18% of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) still use Windows XP despite Microsoft no longer providing security patches for the system. One of the most noted reasons for some small business’s lackadaisical approach to security is because the expected influx of malware programs and viruses into the community after XP’s deadline date didn’t exactly occur. However, in its research, Bitdefender did find one Web marketing firm that had nearly 800 million malware attacks in the three-month analysis period (March to May) as a result of not upgrading. Click here to learn more.

China is Actually Banning Windows 8

According to a report released by Reuters, China is so upset about Microsoft no longer supporting Windows XP that the country is actually banning Windows 8. Although the government issued the ban “as part of a notice on the use of energy-saving products,” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said that the ban was a way to “ensure computer security after Microsoft ended support for its Windows XP operating system.” This is despite the fact that thus far no one in China’s government has provided any explanation about how banning Windows 8 will save energy or ensure security. Click here to learn more.

Users are Hacking the Windows XP Registry to Get Security Patches

Ever since the Windows XP end-of-life date, users have been looking for a way around the loss of support and it seems they have found one, albeit a dangerous one. Some users have been hacking the registry of the operating system to allow it to obtain Microsoft’s security patches through 2019, but Microsoft warns that this is dangerous behavior. According to Microsoft, “The security updates that could be installed are intended for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 customers and do not fully protect Windows XP customers.” Click here to learn more.

Don’t Risk Your Business by Ignoring Windows XP Retirement

At Liquid Technology, we are serious about security. That’s why we only use industry best practices when it comes to our data destruction and computer liquidation services. The recent end-of-life Windows XP situation is a serious issue that involves serious security risks for those that don’t upgrade. While it may be a costly endeavor to do so, not upgrading could be putting your business at serious risk and it could wind up costing you much more in the long run.