Safe for Businesses to Use Windows XP?

Microsoft has shipped its final update for Windows XP, which means all the new security holes will not be patched. Nobody knows what will happen next, but malware writers are expected to target the remaining machines. If you are still running Windows XP, it would be a good idea to make it as secure as possible. Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet". The things you can do to protect XP apply to all versions of Windows. However, because XP will now get more insecure every month, you need to take protection much more seriously. It's a huge problem. There are roughly 1.5 billion PCs in the world, and NetMarketShare reckons that 27.7% are still running XP. That's more than 400 million machines. Since XP is fundamentally much less secure than Windows 7 (48.8%), Windows 8 (11.3%) or even Vista (3.0%), it's a very attractive target for malware writers. (For comparison, all versions of Mac OS X add up to 7.6%, with Linux at 1.5%.)

The quickest way to make a Windows XP machine almost completely secure is to prevent it from accessing the internet. This works for some business PCs that are used for specific purposes, such as controlling machine tools, but isn't practical for most users. However, an alternative is to install a copy of Linux on the same PC, or boot Linux from a Live CD, and use that for browsing and email. Dual-booting two operating systems is tedious and time consuming, but at least you can get online while continuing to use the XP software that has presumably prevented you from upgrading to a more recent version of Windows.  
Microsoft has given Windows XP users plenty of warning that XP support will end soon, but a study released in January by cloud-services provider Evolve IP found that nearly one in five information-technology decision makers were unaware the so-called "XPocalypse" was coming. Cloud-security firm Qualys recently found that although there has been a steady decline in the number of computers using XP, at least 15 percent of U.S. companies still run the 13-year-old OS. 
A lack of software support can create security problems.

"Every standard desktop-security risk that a computer faces will be amplified, because there are no fixes being written by Microsoft," said Scott Kinka, chief technology officer at Evolve IP in Wayne, Pa.

"This involves every form of malware possible," Kinka said. "Just assume someone is on your PC while you're working. Every password, trade secret and bit of personal information is at risk."

Most versions of Windows are based on previous versions, Kinka added, and patches to the newer versions could put XP users at greater risk.

"When an exploit is identified in a newer operating system that is still widely used, it's generally also a risk on older versions of the operating system," Kinka said. "As a result, Microsoft has made it a practice to patch all of their supported operating systems at the same time."

Let's say a vulnerability is found and patched in Windows 7 a few months after April 8, when there will still be millions of people using XP. When the update comes out, not only will XP not be patched, but hackers can examine the Windows 7 update to learn where the same vulnerability exists in XP.

"You just invited them in the front door," Kinka said. "To some extent, patching Windows 7 or 8 provides a potential road map to hackers into XP machines."

It's also important to remember that it isn't only the OS that loses support at the end of a Windows life cycle.

When Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP, it will also stop supporting Office 2003. Many third-party developers will follow suit and end support for XP-compatible versions of their own software. Users may not be able to call those manufacturers for assistance with critical software that runs on XP.

"End of support will not just affect the operating system," Kinka said, "but every piece of software that runs on it — whether it's written by Microsoft or not."

There is some good news, however, regarding Web browsers and anti-virus software. Google will support the XP version of its Chrome Web browser until April 2015, and Mozilla has no plans to stop updating Firefox for XP. Most anti-virus software makers plan to support XP until at least April 2016.

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