microsoft security essentials windows xp

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States paid Microsoft to support its 58,000 Windows XP systems back in April 2014.Īnd on this side of the pond, a freedom of information (FoI) request last autumn found that all NHS trusts were still using XP in some form. “Simply finding an alternative anti-virus to run on Windows XP can only be considered a stop-gap, as the updates will not continue indefinitely.” XP Laggardsīut Windows XP die-hards persist. “My best recommendation to you is to stop using Windows XP entirely, especially if your XP computer is connected to the internet,” said Cluley. This means that after that date, updates for Microsoft Security Essentials will no longer be provided for Windows XP users.

“The Malicious Software Removal Tool and updates to Microsoft Security Essentials will continue to be provided for Windows XP through July 14, 2015.” Read also : Microsoft Extends Free Tech Support For Ukraine Security expert Graham Cluley spotted the warning contained in a message from Microsoft. Some Windows XP users put their trust in continuing to use freebie anti-virus solutions such as Microsoft Security Essentials to protect themselves, after Microsoft promised to continue updates “ for a limited time” after the April 2014 cut-off.īut now that “limited time” update period is at an end. Some organisations such as the US Navy, which still has 100,000 workstations running Windows XP, have signed a deal with Microsoft to keep Windows XP supported.īut many users are not supported and are therefore at risk.

This potentially opened up security risks for millions of users and organisations still using Windows XP. Microsoft officially stopped supporting the venerable OS on 8 April 2014, putting an end to its monthly security patches and bug fixes. It is a known fact that Windows XP is still in use by many customers, and indeed governments agencies and businesses around the world, despite it being launched fourteen years ago in late 2001. Microsoft Security Essentials is the freebie anti-virus tool that Redmond provides for its operating systems.īut now Microsoft has officially terminated the tool’s support for the ancient Windows XP OS.

Microsoft security essentials windows xp