14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will stop providing patches and security fixes for Windows XP as of April 8, 2014, so it’s critical for all users to make the move to a newer platform.
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, an interagency body of the United States government, has issued an alert for all financial institutions and companies still running Windows XP, recommending everyone to start the transition to a more secure operating system.
"After [April 8, 2014], Microsoft will no longer provide regular security patches, technical assistance or support for XP. Financial institutions, TSPs [third-party service providers] and other third parties that use XP in personal computers, servers, and purpose-built devices such as automated teller machines (ATM), or that are dependent on applications that require use of XP, could be exposed to increased operational risk,” the advisory reads.
Microsoft hopes to move all users to Windows 8, as the company urgently needs to boost the market share of its modern operating system, which has until now failed to impress.
Windows 8 is said to be installed on 8 percent of computers worldwide, while Windows XP is still powering more than 30 percent of PCs.