Secure Windows XPSafeBytes Software

 

One of the most known and used OS’s (Operating Systems) in computing is Microsoft Windows. If you have interacted with pretty much anything that requires computing power, chances are you have come across a product that features a variation of Microsoft’s famous Operating system (from phones with Windows Mobile to even gaming systems with the Sega Dreamcast using a version of Windows CE).

As of this writing, and in order of release the most recent versions of windows are the following: Windows 10 Windows 8 Windows 7 Windows Vista Windows XP

Windows 10, has many useful features and is at the moment a free upgrade. Each of these versions has different features and options to offer, most of the time improving user experience compared to the older versions.

Having said this, many users simply find that a certain version of windows suits their needs and preferences way better than any of the others, perhaps even newer versions. Some like windows 8, some like windows 7, and some may even prefer Vista (though these are few and far between).

Without a doubt, one of the oldest windows versions that enjoys the most adherents is windows XP, since it is: User friendly Stable Fast Visually attractive

Unfortunately for the people who still prefer to use XP, Microsoft stopped offering technical, warranty and design support in 2009. Extended support for it ended in 2014. What do we mean by extended support? From 2009 to 2014 Microsoft started phasing out different areas of support for XP, starting with technical support.

But even after removing tiers of support offered, they still offered security updates for free until April 8th, 2014. Why “free”? As of now, there are still what Microsoft calls “critical updates” offered for Windows XP, but in order to be able to access and install them you need to be part of a paid Custom Support Plan, and these are normally very high fees, intended for large companies that still use the OS.

Does all this mean that if you still prefer Windows XP over all other versions available you would need to upgrade in order to be sure that your computer will be secure? Not necessarily, if you take several precautions from now on.

There is however, one very important thing to understand before deciding to continue using an operating system that is no longer being updated in terms of security:

All Operating Systems have security vulnerabilities in them from the get go, and developers try to patch up these vulnerabilities systematically as time goes on. An OS that is no longer receiving these patches is at a much higher risk from attackers.

In the rest of this article we will go over the most basic of precautions that you need to take in order to keep using Windows XP:

Be careful when choosing what software you are going to use. Outdated software, just like the Operating System, has more vulnerabilities. It’s as simple as that.

Double check any and all programs that you are using and make sure of two things:

- They are still supported by their developers in Windows XP.- They are fully up to date.

This of course includes even Office and Outlook. Outdated versions have to go.This is also very important: if you are still using Internet Explorer, it’s time to stop. IE versions for Windows XP are no longer supported at all by Microsoft, which means that the already vulnerable browser is not getting any better and the longer you spend using it, the more likely you are to be attacked.

Remove insecure software. This might seem the same as the point about the programs needing to be updated, but it really means things like Java, Flash and Adobe Reader. Both of these programs have considerable vulnerabilities that, although patched from time to time, are really rather big. In the case of XP, these vulnerabilities would most certainly be cause for alarm, whether the software is up to date or not.

Bottom line is, unless you need them for something specific don’t install them on your computer. And if you do need to use it, be sure to always keep it updated and disable it on browsers and other programs that allow it to be disabled.

Be a lot more careful on the internet. It is always good to have certain practices when going online, whether you are accessing software or websites that you have come to trust or are treading new ground. This goes double for your interactions with the internet on a system that is no longer being updated.

Remember: security starts with the user, and your behaviour with regards to security can go a long way to determine the relative safety of your computer and data.

Install an antivirus software that still supports XP. Of course, even the most well versed user can stumble from time to time and end up in a situation where their computer gets infected.

The only difference to a Windows XP user is that as time goes on, these stumbles can become more and more likely. Because of that, it is best to always have a good antivirus program that is regularly updated with the latest virus definitions and, more importantly, still supports XP.

If you only need XP to interact with a specific piece of software or hardware that is only compatible with it, consider just going offline. Being disconnected from any network is the only way of making absolutely sure that a computer that still uses XP will not be vulnerable to attacks.

These measures will help you keep your machine running XP for a while longer, but please be aware that as more time goes on, the bigger the security threat becomes for your system. If all of this seems like a lot of work for little payoff, perhaps it is time to consider giving XP a fond farewell, back up your important files and move on to other, newer, versions of Windows.