Sun not yet set on Microsoft's Windows XP support threat

After previously announcing the Windows XP end of support date as April 8, 2014, to help organisations complete their migrations Microsoft will continue to provide updates to antimalware signatures and engine for Windows XP users through to July 14, 2015.

Announced via the company’s official blog, after this date, Redmond says Windows XP will no longer be a supported operating system.

“We've received some inquiries about what "no longer supported operating system" means,” the post states.

“To clarify, this mean that, after April 8, 2014, Windows XP users will no longer receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft.

“This does not affect the end-of-support date of Windows XP, or the supportability of Windows XP for other Microsoft products, which deliver and apply those signatures.”

For enterprise customers, this applies to System Center Endpoint Protection, Forefront Client Security, Forefront Endpoint Protection and Windows Intune running on Windows XP while for consumers, this applies to Microsoft Security Essentials.

“Our research shows that the effectiveness of antimalware solutions on out-of-support operating systems is limited,” the post continues.

“Running a well-protected solution starts with using modern software and hardware designed to help protect against today’s threat landscape.

Microsoft recommends best practices to protect your PC such as:

• Using modern software that has advanced security technologies and is supported with regular security updates,

• Regularly applying security updates for all software installed,

• Running up-to-date anti-virus software.

“Our goal is to provide great antimalware solutions for our consumer and business customers,” Microsoft adds.

“We will continue to work with our customers and partners in doing so, and help our customers complete their migrations as Windows XP end of life approaches.”