Windows 10 is
the next version of Microsoft’s Windows computer software for tablets,
desktops, laptops and smartphones, which brings back the start menu.Photograph: Microsoft
Microsoft has unveiled its next version of the Windows software
which presently powers about 1.5bn PCs in use on the planet. Windows 10
will aim to entice users put off by Windows 8, whose lack of a start
menu (introduced in 1995 with Windows 95) was more suitable for touch
interfaces than a keyboard and a mouse – even though keyboard-reliant
users outnumbered touch users by millions to one.
Windows 8 was a radical departure from the tried and tested Windows
interface introduced in Windows 95. Users were puzzled at best, and
businesses were slower to update than usual. Microsoft hopes Windows 10
will bring users back and entice businesses to ditch the four-year-old
Windows 7, seven-year-old Windows Vista and the now-discontinued
13-year-old Windows XP.
1 Start menu
The start menu is back, but it’s still got Microsoft’s live tiles from Windows 8 bolted on to the side.Photograph: screengrab
After complaints from users about its absence,
the start menu is back. Clicking the start button brings up a menu,
which – although isn’t exactly the same as Windows 7 or those before it –
is more familiar than the full-screen tiled interface of Windows 8.
This should be much more useful for desktop users, but the tiled
interface from Windows 8 is tacked on to the side.
2 Continuum
When connecting
or disconnecting a keyboard Windows 10 will switch between a
touch-based interface and a mouse and keyboard-focused interface.Photograph: screengrab
Windows 10 attempts to blend the best of Windows 7 with Windows 8.
One of the smartest things Microsoft has added is Continuum, which
detects the state of the computer and presents the right interface
depending on whether a keyboard and mouse is being used or the screen is
being touched.
For machines like the Surface Pro (which has a detachable keyboard),
when the keyboard is attached it behaves like a desktop machine; without
it, Windows switches to a more touch-friendly interface with an
on-screen back button and other touch elements to make things a bit
easier with fingers on a screen.
3 One Windows for all devices
Microsoft is
using Windows 10 to attempt to unify its various software platforms
across different devices under one Windows brand and software.Photograph: screengrab
Microsoft has talked a lot about Windows being more than simply
desktop computer software. Windows 10 is meant to unify desktop PCs,
Windows tablets and Windows Phone smartphones with one interface, one
way of operating and one account.
Apple has taken a similar route with its iCloud accounts and the upcoming Continuity
feature between iPads, iPhones and Mac computers – although its iOS
software on the iPhone and OS X on the desktop have been kept separate.
4 Universal apps
Microsoft promises that Windows universal apps will run on any Windows product, including smartphones, tablets and desktops.
Along with the “one Windows for all devices” idea, Microsoft is
pushing what it calls “universal Windows apps”, which is the new name
for apps downloaded from the Windows Store. The idea is that one app
will be able to run on all Windows platforms, including Windows Phone.
Microsoft has been talking about this for over a year.
How it will work is not yet clear, but it is likely that new Windows
apps will have a condensed version for Windows Phone and full-size
versions for tablets and computers. Apple’s universal apps do something
similar between the iPhone and iPad, but are not the same as the desktop
OS X apps.
5 No more full-screen; universal apps can be windowed
New Windows
Store apps, which previously only operated in full-screen mode, can now
be used in traditional windows on the desktop.Photograph: Microsoft
Bringing back the start menu has given the traditional Windows
desktop more prominence again. To help merge the Windows 8-style
“modern” apps from the Windows Store with the traditional desktop,
Windows 10 can now run the newly renamed “universal apps” in windows on
the desktop, as though they were any other desktop app.
6 Snap assist
The window Snap feature has been enhanced to size windows for better multi-window productivity.Photograph: Microsoft
The snapping feature, which automatically resizes windows on the
desktop to fill part or all of the screen, has been enhanced, allowing
tiling of windows, snapping side-by-side and an array of new layouts to
including virtual multi-desktop modes to try to help computer and tablet
users be more productive with both universal apps and traditional
desktop Windows apps.
7 What will it run on? Is Windows RT dead?
Is Windows RT dead?Photograph: Alamy
Windows 10 will run on most things that Windows 8 can run on. That
includes almost any new PC bought in the last couple of years, but will
exclude some older PCs, as Windows 8 requires a 64-bit processor.
Processors supporting 64-bit operation have been on sale from Intel
and AMD since 2004, so most PCs still in operation will support 64-bit
software.
The fate of ARM-based Windows tablets (that is, not running x86
processors) is unclear. Windows RT powers the Microsoft Surface and
Surface 2, Nokia Lumia 2520 and the Dell XPS 10, among others. Microsoft
has yet to announce whether Windows RT, which only runs on tablets
powered by smartphone-class ARM processors, will be upgraded to Windows
10. A question about RT’s future wasn’t answered at the introduction on
Tuesday.
8 When will it be available, and what will it cost?
The technical preview of Windows 10 will be available soon, with but Windows 10 won’t be available to buy until 2015.Photograph: Screenshot
Microsoft showed off Windows 10 on Tuesday, but it won’t actually be
available to users until 2015, after Microsoft’s developer conference
in April called Build. Microsoft will be courting businesses before
consumers, but Windows 10 is unlikely to appear in most businesses until
the end of 2015 at the earliest.
Most consumers will buy Windows 10 with a new PC, but for those
feeling adventurous and wanting to have a poke around Microsoft’s latest
and greatest, the company is allowing users to sign up for early
previews of the software still in testing.
It is recommended only for those that are happy to deal with and tech
savvy enough to cope with buggy software and the potential for data
loss, but those interested can check out the Windows Insider Program.
How much the final retail edition of Windows 10 will cost Microsoft
hasn’t said. Windows 8.1 costs £100 from Microsoft, but a Windows 10
introductory discount is likely.
10 What’s in a number?
Terry Myerson and Joe Belfiore, Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group unveil Windows 10.Photograph: Microsoft
Yes, Microsoft did skip from Windows 8 (or 8.1 to be precise) straight to Windows 10.
What happened to Windows 9? Perhaps Microsoft has been using base 9,
so 9 is 10. Or 10 just sounds better? The Xbox 360 (aka the Xbox 2) and
its successor the Xbox One (aka the Xbox 3) are proof that Microsoft is
happy to throw out conventional numbering when it feels like it. • Microsoft unveils Windows 10: ‘It wouldn’t be right to call it Windows 9’ • Surface Pro 3 review: the most lappable tablet yet
Almost 14 years in service, today 8/4/2014, Microsoft has finally ended support for Microsoft Windows XP, but it is not the end of the world because Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Safari 3 still run support to Windows XP for one year more.
The USA software company will end patching newly found security holes in Microsoft Windows XP code that hackers or crackers could exploit to slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to finish "supporting" the nearly 14-year-old operating system, it still powers from 25 percent (1 out of 4) of Windows computers around the world, according to industry estimates.
For big institutions (Government, Non-government, Police departments, Fire department, Banks, legal offices and hotels and restaurants, etc) with a lot of computers running XP the inertia has proved too much, and many - including the UK government - have caved, paying millions of sterling pounds to Microsoft to negotiate custom support deals. This does not mean that computers running the operating system stop to boot, but they will become drastically more susceptible to hackers or crackers, if the company’s stops issuing security updates and providing technical support.
Estimates
vary but it’s thought that as many as a third of the world’s computers
are still running the operating system and Microsoft themselves have
said that infections for XP will rise 67 per cent after 8 April, 2014. The
question is, if you’re still running Windows XP: What do you do?
In
the long term you only have two new steps: buy a new computer or
upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 or other Operating System. We will deal with these options in a minute, but if you are not ready to make a fast switch over then there is
a couple of things you should do if you will still be on XP over the next
couple of months.
First, make sure the software you have is as
up to date as possible. That means grabbing any security fixes you may
have missed from Microsoft’s website and making sure you have got some "best recommended" (non-Microsoft) antivirus software installed. (e.g. Bitdefender’s Total Security 2014, Bitdefender’s Antivirus Plus 2014, Symantec’s Norton 360 (2014), Kaspersky Internet Security 2014, Avast! Premier 2014, McAfee Antivirus Plus, Norton Antivirus, F-Secure Anti-virus)
You should also switch from Internet Explorer or Bing to a different browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome. Google will be supporting their browser on Windows XP computers until April 2015 while Mozilla haven’t announced an end-date to support for Firefox, but still give support. Of course, if you want to keep really safe then you would be best advised just to stay off the web altogether, though for many users this will not even be an option.
Other option is to
switch from using an Administrator Account to a Limited Account for
tasks like checking your email (where you might accidently download that
pesky malware). This means that if a hacker or cracker does start riding along on
your computer at least they will not have administrator-level access.
However, we have to say that these steps are just temporary measures and
are not enough to protect you in the following months. One way or the
other you need to upgrade to a better Operating System and maybe a better hardware o computer.
Whether you’re buying a new computer (think in this: Do I stick with a desktop PC? or switch to something more portable), or simply upgrade my operating system. You will have to choose between Windows 7 and Windows 8, or Ubuntu 12.10 or 13.04 or 13.10.
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 (All day)
Features
[ESSENCE - (08-04-2014)]
Windows XP diehards to fend off hackers on their own People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
On April 8 (today), the US software colossus will stop patching newly
found security holes in Windows XP code that hackers could exploit to
slip into computers.
Despite Microsoft's long-heralded plan to stop "supporting" the
nearly 13-year-old operating system, it still powers from 20 to 30
percent of Windows machines around the world, according to industry
estimates.
"I am sure you have everything from police departments to banks to
legal offices to restaurants," Trustwave director Christopher Pogue said
while discussing the extent to which Windows XP is still used.
"Think of a business and they probably run XP; I would say everyone is in equal danger."
US-based Trustwave specializes in helping businesses fight cyber
crime. Microsoft support entails regular security updates, but when it
stops issuing patches to defend against freshly revealed hacker tactics
aimed at XP, those using the operating system will need to enlist their
own software wizards or live with mounting threats. - Panic -
Hackers might already know of new ways to break into XP-powered
computers but be waiting until after Tuesday to attack because Microsoft
will no longer step in to thwart them, security experts say.
"You are talking literally millions of computers systems that will cease to receive regular security updates," Pogue said.
"That is obviously causing a panic because of new vulnerabilities that will be introduced."
Microsoft has released several generations of Windows since XP made its debut in 2001.
The most recent version is Windows 8, tailored for a world enamored
of touch-screen computers and services hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Given the rapid evolution of computer hardware and the short
lifespans of devices, newer computers bought by consumers are likely
running newer versions of Windows.
Of concern, though, are small businesses that stuck with XP because they have grown accustomed to it and it gets the job done.
Sectors thought to be more prone to holding on to XP include those
with relatively unsophisticated computing needs along with emerging
markets or schools where money is tight.
Particular worry is being expressed for automated teller machines, many of which are reported to rely on Windows XP.
ATMs could become vulnerable to hacking, particularly independent
machines in small shops or bars that aren't owned by banks which are
more likely to invest in software security, according to Gartner analyst
Michael Silver. - Risky attitude -
"In a lot of cases, it is that Windows XP is good enough and people
didn't see the business value to spending money to upgrade," Silver said
of businesses hanging on to XP as new versions of Windows came and
went.
"It is a risky attitude, given what issues they could have. These folks knew this was coming, too."
The pain of "migrating" to new operating systems includes making sure
software programs depended on by businesses will continue to work.
Computers running Windows XP cannot easily be upgraded to the newest
Windows version, and that means the users would need to buy new
machines.
While Microsoft stands to benefit through sales of new devices using
Windows 8, organizations resigned to the aggravation of system changes
could be open to considering what rivals such as Apple or Google have to
offer.
"The risk for Microsoft is that people will migrate to somewhere
else," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.
"They should have never allowed it to get this bad."
The global estimate of the number of XP-powered computers may likely
be skewed by the China market, where there is widespread use of pirated
versions of the Microsoft software, according to a post by computer
protection analyst Graham Cluley at WeLiveSecurity.com. Given that
Windows software powers more than 90 percent of the world's computers,
even a small percentage of machines running XP in any country could
translate to high numbers.
Computers running XP will make the Internet a more dangerous place
for everyone since hackers can launch cyber attacks from infected
machines or valuable information about customers from businesses, Cluley
argued. The good news, according to analysts, is that the latest
version of Windows is far more capable and secure. Yahoo News
- See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/essence-08-04-2014#sthash.LeaGAkSV.dpuf
People
clinging to Microsoft's aging Windows XP operating system will be left
to fend off cyber criminals by themselves come Tuesday.
