The operating system that refuses to die gets its penultimate “patch Tuesday”, with two of the updates rated “critical” and three “important”.
Much to the annoyance of Microsoft, Windows XP is an operating system that refuses to die. The 13-year-old OS still commands sizeable market share, with many of its loyalists, concerningly, being enterprise customers. Microsoft has made many attempts to move users to its more modern operating systems like Windows 7, but the reaction from constituents has largely been ‘why bother?’. Now as Microsoft prepares to release its penultimate security update for the aging OS, the incentive for users to move on has never been greater.
Within this month’s basket of patches, two are rated “critical” and three “important”.
For many enterprise users, the big problem post Windows XP’s planned “end-of-life” is how to keep networks secure without the support of Microsoft. This month’s patch Tuesday should be taken as an indication that Windows XP, while over a decade old and patched thousands of times, still has its share of vulnerabilities in it. There could be undiscovered kernel-level exploits in the operating system that would be close to impossible to fix without the support of Microsoft. Particularly concerning is the fact that many critical infrastructure companies, from utilities to banks, still have Windows XP integrated deep into their respective networks.
In the end it may be the case that Microsoft, much to its chagrin, extends support for Windows XP past its planned obsolescence. Realistically, there is no reason for many enterprise customers to move on to Windows 7 and abandoning Windows XP outright will mean a vulnerability free-for-all on many major enterprise clients.
Windows XP will reach end-of-life on April 8.
For many enterprise users, the big problem post Windows XP’s planned “end-of-life” is how to keep networks secure without the support of Microsoft. This month’s patch Tuesday should be taken as an indication that Windows XP, while over a decade old and patched thousands of times, still has its share of vulnerabilities in it. There could be undiscovered kernel-level exploits in the operating system that would be close to impossible to fix without the support of Microsoft. Particularly concerning is the fact that many critical infrastructure companies, from utilities to banks, still have Windows XP integrated deep into their respective networks.
In the end it may be the case that Microsoft, much to its chagrin, extends support for Windows XP past its planned obsolescence. Realistically, there is no reason for many enterprise customers to move on to Windows 7 and abandoning Windows XP outright will mean a vulnerability free-for-all on many major enterprise clients.
Windows XP will reach end-of-life on April 8.
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