End of an era

No one really likes change, but all things must come to an end.  

On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will be discontinuing two of their products, Windows XP and Office 2003.  They will be cutting off the extended support for these products. 

So what does this mean for you? 

Well, don’t panic! Quite a lot of people are already running a newer version of Windows, like Vista, 7 or 8 and Office 2007, 2010 or 2013.  But for those who are still using Windows XP, it does mean a bit of change. Your computer will still continue working and you can still run all of the programs you have on it, but it means that all updates will stop for Windows XP. Most people don’t realise that they are even running automatic updates, but when the updates stop, there will be a change in the grander scheme of things. How so? 

Windows XP is already an insecure system, compared with newer software. It’s a prime target for viruses and malware. In an everyday system, these security threats are stopped by releasing a security update; something that plugs the hole in your security so you don’t get the virus in the first place. If you keep getting updates, it means that your computer is improving its security constantly. With Microsoft cutting off that support, your computer will not have any new security updates. 

Those who make viruses are looking forward to this date. If they keep whatever security flaws they have found secret until after that date, that means that no one will be able to stop them afterwards through an update. For you, after April 8, 2014, your computer will become ‘at risk’ of virus attacks, with little to stop them. People do run antivirus programs, but they often are a ‘band aid’ fix to the larger problem of an insecure system. 

So why bring this up now, over 6 months in advance? Because now is the time to start looking at how to move away from it, rather than leaving it to the last minute. Changes will need to be made, and the more time you have, the smoother and easier the transition will be. Every person’s situation is different, so the best course of action would be to contact your local computer store, find out if you are running Windows XP or Office 2003, and ask for their recommendations.  

In the next article, we’ll look at how to make a smooth transition to a secure system.