Microsoft Closes Support To Public On Its XP software April 8
Microsoft Windows XP users, if not a part of an exclusive group of businesses or government agencies that are paying for the custom support, are no longer able to receive security patches or technical support from the company.
Microsoft officially released its final security patch for XP on April 8 and will end its support for the 12-year-old operating software.
According to Microsoft Canada Windows consumer marketing lead Marc Aube, no support after April 8 means there will be no security and non-security hotfixes for either unpaid or paid support provided by the company.
Those folks – individuals and businesses – using the old operating system are leaving themselves wide open from cybercriminal attacks.
Microsoft said it will not have “paid” support options available but there is one.
Companies requiring additional time to move into a recent operating software – Microsoft 7 or 8 – can use the company’s custom support option.
Aube said they can get the necessary important security updates when new threats are found along with technical support during the length stipulated in their contract.
In February, nearly half of the government and business computers were still using Windows XP because of the cost to upgrade. Net Market Share, a web analytics computer, said that as of March 2014, 28 percent of all computers around the world were using Windows XP.
Aube said custom support can be found in Canada and encourages eligible businesses to call Microsoft regarding the surface if they feel they need the support. Businesses that are eligible are ones who already subscribe to the company’s premier support program. This program provides constant technical and security support by an elected Microsoft team.
Aube said Microsoft has advised using its custom support serve as a short-term answer to moving into a more recent OS.
Aube said the program is aimed more toward bigger companies and organization with lots of computers that need upgrading. He said smaller businesses may not benefit from this due to the cost. The recommendation is to use Microsoft Pinpoint, the Internet service that helps in the identification of the right software, hardware and applications that will assist them in moving from XP.
Individuals cannot receive custom support and, the reasoning behind this is that the company announced back in 2007 that it was ending its support for the old operating system and is moving forward from it.
Until July 14, 2015, Microsoft will still issue anti-malware warnings and updates.
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