14 DAY TRIAL // Windows XP no longer receives security updates and patches, but millions of users are still running it right now on their computers, no matter if it’s a safe operating system or not.
AVAST says that 47 million of its customers are still using Windows XP as we speak, so the company issued some recommendations in order to help them stay secure without support offered by Microsoft itself.
First of all, the security vendor recommends users to purchase a new computer, as it believes that this critical moment cannot be postponed too much.
“Buy a new computer as soon as you can. You can’t escape that one day that will be your only choice. So throw your left-over coins in a jar to start a new PC fund,” it says.
At the same time, you need to update all software apps running on your computer, but keep in mind that some new versions might not work on Windows XP. “Remember, Windows XP is old, and software has moved on. Make sure to apply any patches to the software you are using to avoid vulnerabilities. Avast! Software Updater can help you with that.”
Replace Internet Explorer with a browser that still receives updates, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera, is also mandatory if you wish to stay protected, but also to install anti-virus software and keep it fully up-to-date.
Removing the applications that you no longer use is also a way to make sure that you won’t get hacked, but also to keep your Windows XP computer without an active Internet connection to make sure that cybercriminals won’t be capable of connecting to your machine remotely.
“Get offline or stay away as often as you can. If you’re disconnected from the network, the cybercrooks can’t find you. And you can be guaranteed they’ll be looking,” AVAST said.
Of course, avast! Antivirus is one of the application that’ll continue supporting Windows XP and given the fact that it’s offered with a freeware license, there’s no doubt that it comes in handy to millions of users out there.
The security vendor also recommends users to get in touch with friends and recommend them to abandon Windows XP as soon as possible as well, pointing out that the old operating system can stay secure only for a limited period of time. Approximately 28 percent of the desktop computers worldwide are still running Windows XP, according to third-party data.