Microsoft has announced it will stop providing updates for its aging Window XP operating system on April 8, which is potentially bad news for the 500 million-or-so people around the world who still use the 12-year-old software.
The biggest worry is security. With Microsoft no longer patching the software’s vulnerabilities, experts fear, cyber crooks will have an easier time victimizing anyone whose computer runs Windows XP.
That’s a particular concern because several antivirus software makers have said they plan to stop providing security for the product after April 8.
At least one antivirus firm, Avira, said Wednesday that it will continue to block malware targeting Windows XP, once Microsoft stops updating it. But Avira warned that “the best way to stay away from troubles is to have up-to-date software.” So its advice: “migrate from XP as soon as possible.”
