14 DAY TRIAL // Windows XP will be discontinued on April 8, which means that all those 29 percent of the users worldwide who are still running this particular OS version would become vulnerable to attacks unless they decide to move to a newer platform.
The software giant has launched several campaigns until now to convince users to move to Windows 8.1, but many of them actually failed to make any different, with plenty of consumers still running Windows XP less than 30 days before retirement.
An infographic rolled out today by Microsoft suggests that Windows XP will soon become a very vulnerable operating system, which does nothing more than to emphasize that users still running it need to migrate as soon as possible.
“Using an operating system over a decade old can make for slower performance, decreased efficiency, reduced software compatibility and a poor user experience compared to a modern operating system,” the infographic reads.
“Without support, some businesses such as those in the financial or public sector, may struggle to remain compliant if they continue to use Windows XP.”
What’s interesting is that this new infographic doesn’t recommend Windows 8.1 as the only alternative for Windows XP, but also Windows 7, which Microsoft says is good enough for all those still running XP.
“What’s the best plan? Let Microsoft Services help your business to transition to Windows 7 or Windows 8 and join companies who have made the switch,” the infographic also mentions.
Windows XP continues to be the second most-used operating system in the world, with a market share of 29 percent, while Windows 7 continues to lead the charts with nearly 50 percent of the desktop world.
Starting March 8, Microsoft is also displaying upgrade notifications on Windows XP computers, trying to make everyone aware that support is coming to an end very soon, so users need to migrate to a new platform, such as Windows 8.1 as soon as possible.
The notifications are being sent to Windows XP computers via a patch delivered via Windows Update, but Microsoft is also providing users with an option to permanently disable the warnings and never be bothered again.
Otherwise, the upgrade notifications will be displayed on the 8th day of each month, just to make sure that users follow the necessary steps to protect their computers and block any vulnerabilities that would allow hackers to break into their devices and access confidential data.