14 DAY TRIAL // Windows XP is quite a trending topic these days given the fact that it no longer receives support and security patches, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that users are ready to give up on it.
Instead, 28 percent of the desktop computers worldwide are still running XP, which is living proof that many users are still addicted to the operating system launched nearly 13 years ago.
ESET, maker of famous anti-virus product NOD32 and one of the companies whose applications will continue to work on Windows XP for at least two more years, provided some tips for those still running the unsupported operating system, saying that security software is a must-have these days on every single computer that sticks to the ancient platform.
One of the recommendations made by ESET is to disconnect your system from the Internet whenever it’s possible, as cybercriminals would obviously attempt to exploit their data using malware delivered via email, compromised websites, and file-sharing applications.
“If the computer does not have to be connected to the Internet, disconnect or disable the connection so that the PC can only connect to other machines on the same non-Internet network. This will ensure that Internet-borne threats cannot directly attack your XP PC, and will make it harder for an attacker to steal data off the computer,” ESET said in a press statement today.
Of course, deploying the final updates for Windows XP and the latest versions of the software applications running on your computer is also a way to stay secure, as this could help you block any security issues that might exist in the programs you previously installed.
“In addition to the operating system and drivers, you should also make sure you have the latest versions of your application software on the computer, and that those are fully-patched and updated. Users should make sure that security software should be updates with security program that combines signature-based and heuristic detection, includes a firewall, and has some kind of host intrusion protection system,” ESET pointed out.
Microsoft, on the other hand, says that everyone should migrate to a newer OS version as soon as possible, as third-party software cannot block all threats trying to exploit vulnerabilities found in the operating system. The company obviously wants users to move to Windows 8.1, the newest version of the OS that’s said to be the most secure and reliable edition to date.