Redmond Magazine: Antivirus Maker Blasts Microsoft for Ending Windows XP Support

I read this Redmond magazine article at the following URL: -
http://redmondmag.com/articles/2014/03/20/ending-xp-support.aspx

I have copied the following extracts from the article: -

“Abandoning Windows XP is a big mistake, especially since Microsoft has not been very successful in transitioning XP users to newer systems,” wrote Ondrej Vlcek, chief operations officer at Avast Software. “The Avast database shows that 23.6% of its more than 200 million users is still running Windows XP.”

Avast points to the loss of support for XP will potentially lead to a higher number of data-loss incidents like the one Target faced late last year and would also "be an easy target for hackers and be seen as a gateway to infect other non-XP operating systems.

“AVAST is devoted to protecting the PC ecosystem by not only supporting Windows XP for at least the next three years, but also by creating protection modules and detections specifically designed to cover Windows XP vulnerabilities and other security problems,” wrote Vlcek.

The article does not mention the many thousands of XP systems in critical clinical use in hospitals. Networked XP computers in this environment could be highly hazardous for patients receiving treatment controlled or monitored through these vulnerable systems. They are running specialist software which in many cases cannot be ported to later Windows versions. Has Microsoft deliberately seen fit to ignore this? Not very good PR for the Vole is it?

"AVAST is devoted to protecting the PC ecosystem by not only supporting Windows XP for at least the next three years, but [b]also by creating protection modules and detections specifically designed to cover Windows XP vulnerabilities and other security problems[/b]," wrote Vlcek.

Congrats to avast! for doing this.

It was posted, also, in avast! blog: http://blog.avast.com/2014/03/17/another-data-breach-crisis-looms-as-microsofts-d-day-for-xp-forces-security-scramble/

I think it’s true that embedded systems (systems which are not directly exposed to the Internet) won’t be as vulnerable to attack. Yes Microsoft is brain dead for killing XP, but it’s not the end of the world.

For those of us still using XP to browse the web, we have an abundance of security tools at our disposal. Avast being among the best.

It warms my heart to read Ondrej Vlcek’s words. What more can you say of a company when one of it’s most senior people makes such an enlightened statement. I am deeply impressed with Avast’s corporate philosophy and it’s wonderful products.

:slight_smile:

Yup, this is awesome news! Some of us still use XP because it best suits our needs. We’re smart enough to realize Microsoft’s intentions are purely marketing driven.

I really hope AV like Avast can fill the void, but if East Asia is any indication the future doesn’t look too good.

Piracy in Asia is extremely high. Nearly impossible to protect such users from their own unsafe actions…

Me too. Well said, hake :slight_smile:

First of all, critical machines aren’t and shouldn’t be connected with the internet. A local network is something else than a global network access.
Secondly, you don’t know whether there are normal XP versions or embedded versions with extended support
Thirdly, it’s not the fault of Microsoft that people were too stupid to look for open source alternatives or to get a decent support contract for the next version so that it might have run on NT 6.x (Vista and above). The support duration was limited from the beginning and it has been even extended, so after 13 years of support, let XP die.

Hi yes I agree let it die. If they are going to bring anything back I would like a 69 Charger or some old Brit bikes LOL.

If they are going to bring anything back I would like a 69 Charger or some old Brit bikes LOL.
me want one ;D http://www.nortonmotorcycles.com/bikes/Norton%20Commando%20961%20Sport/index.php#.UzQ7ifl5PLk