On April 8 it will be three years since Microsoft ended its extended support for Windows XP. Despite the fact that no one is patching its vulnerabilities, almost 8% of desktop users worldwide still run the operating system.

"Somewhat paradoxically, XPs are still very much alive and kicking compared to some of its successors.

Somewhat paradoxically, XPs are still very much alive and kicking compared to some of its successors. Windows Vista – which will be abandoned by Microsoft next week on April 11 – only runs on less than 1% of desktops and figures for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 combined are comparable to XP’s current stats.

You might ask, what is the reason for people to keep such old software on their desktops, even beyond its ‘use by date’ (which was April 2014)?

There are several reasons:

  • The computer was used to run a key application(s), which only worked under Windows XP.
  • The computer was used to operate a piece of hardware, which only worked with Microsoft Windows XP. This was mostly in cases of industrial, medical or scientific equipment where the operating system acted as a kind of embedded controller, and the cost of upgrading the system to support newer versions – or replacing – was possibly cost-prohibitive.
  • The computer was used to perform a specific set of functions familiar to the user and comfortable to use.
  • Or users simply don’t want to pay for another license and security doesn’t concern them as they only use it for very specific activities – such as browsing their favorite news websites or writing up recipes (which can be done even if offline).

However, with every additional year after the end of extended support, the likelihood of security issues and incidents increases. So unless you are using XPs in an air-gapped setting or only for non-crucial activities, you should consider moving on to a newer version offering a more secure experience.

"Without patches and updates, your PC becomes an easier target for malicious code that can steal or damage your data."

Without patches and updates, your PC becomes an easier target for malicious code that can steal or damage your data. The same goes for many XP-specific applications that have become unsupported in the past three years and open additional attack surface for the attackers.

Although, there are also a few exceptions to this rule, like Firefox, which announced it will be automatically moving all Windows XP and Vista users to the extended support release.

So what should you do if you still want to run Windows XP?

  1. If you don’t want to part from your XPs, install all available updates (Service Pack 3 is a good start) for the OS. Also update all the software you are using to the latest possible version supported for the XPs.
  2. If possible, run the XPs in an air-gapped setting – so without internet connection. As an alternative, you can always cut the connection when you don’t need it.
  3. Use a reliable, updated and multilayered security software (if the computer is air-gapped, it will only update at the moment you connect to the internet).
  4. Use a separate administrator and user account(s) – based on how many people are using the desktop. This helps to limit the possible malicious use of the elevated rights by the attackers, even if they achieve to control your computer.
  5. Disable AutoPlay and AutoRun features, as these were often misused by malware or its writers to install or download malicious code to the victim’s machine.

We need to emphasize that none of these steps will keep your desktop completely safe; they will merely reduce the attack surface. The best option is to move on to a newer operating system offering updates and patches as well as updated applications and install a security solution as an additional layer of protection.

If you are looking for an alternative to the aging Windows XP, read our blog post to help you decide whether you should go for Windows 10. To make an informed decision you can also read Aryeh Goretsky’s whitepaper about Windows 10.