Windows XP Risks | What will happen if you continue to run it?

A preview of the new Windows 10 (via Windows Newsroom: Image Gallery)

As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft ended security updates and technical support for users of the aging Windows XP operating system (OS). After 12 years of support, Microsoft decided to end their work on Windows XP in order to put more time and effort into developing new software and maintaining current services.

Without security updates, there are multiple Windows XP risks in relation to security. Machines running Windows XP are now vulnerable to malware that can be used to steal personal information. Businesses that handle sensitive information should consider regulatory compliance when making a decision about their OS. For instance, the HIPAA Privacy Rule requires covered organizations “to make reasonable efforts to limit the use or disclosure of, and requests for, protected health information.” What constitutes “reasonable efforts” is determined by the cost and difficulty of implementing safeguards. Businesses must consider how much upgrading to a new OS will cost them, both in terms of money and effort – and, comparatively, how much a security breach would cost, should one occur.

As explained by Tim Rains on Microsoft’s Cyber Trust blog, attackers will have more information on the vulnerabilities of Windows XP than their potential victims. This is because Microsoft generally releases a security update for all its products at the same time, in order to make it more difficult for a hacker to find where specific vulnerabilities were. Attackers will often try to reverse engineer security updates to see what vulnerabilities they are intended to fix, and then exploit those vulnerabilities. Now, attackers can reverse engineer the updates for other Microsoft products and check to see if Windows XP shares the vulnerabilities they uncover. If it does, Windows XP is caught without an update, making it completely vulnerable.

Another factor to consider is that future software purchases will be limited for those running Windows XP. Most software vendors have stopped concerning themselves with whether their products are compatible with XP. Businesses that choose to stick to XP limit their ability to take advantage of the newest and best technologies available.

If you’re still running Windows XP, your best move is to make the switch to a different OS. On September 30, Microsoft announced the Technical Preview phase of its newest OS, Windows 10. Starting October 1, technology enthusiasts can download and try out a preview build of Windows 10. The new OS will be made widely available to consumers and businesses in the later part of 2015. In the meantime, Windows 8.1 is Microsoft’s most recently released OS. Also worth consideration is Apple’s OS X Mavericks. Be sure to assess all your options so you can choose the right OS for your organization.