Microsoft Discontinues Support For Windows XP From Today | TechTree.com

Microsoft Discontinues Support For Windows XP From Today

This move could reek havoc across banking networks and ATMs; not very reassuring news then.

 

Microsoft will stop providing technical support for its most popular Windows XP operating system as of today, bringing an end to what is undoubtedly the greatest products to come from the Redmond giant.

 

Windows XP was launched in October 2001, and while it is three OS generations old, the number of systems still running it is a cause for concern. From today onwards customers will no longer receive security updates, free or paid technical assistance and other software patches.

 

"There is a sense of urgency because after April 8, Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) customers will no longer receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates," said Tim Rains, Microsoft Director, in an earlier blog post.

 

This leaves the door wide open for cybercriminals to attack systems still running on Windows XP, which unfortunately includes a large number of ATMs in the country. The number of systems running XP at large enterprises in India stands at 16 per cent, but the figure is much higher for the currency vending machines.

 

Last month, as news of Microsoft stopping support for Windows XP broke, the RBI had warned that banking operations including ATM services could be hit. However Indian Banks Association (IBA) chief executive M V Tanksale later clarified that only older ATMs could be affected as newer ones already run on different platforms.


TAGS: Windows, Microsoft, operating system, Windows XP

 
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