14 DAY TRIAL // If you're on Windows XP, you definitely remember the registry hack we told you about one month ago, which helps you keep the ancient operating system fully up to date despite end of support.
Well, it appears that it was only a matter of time until someone actually decided to implement this registry hack into an application and make it easier for users to configure Windows XP in order to receive updates until at least 2019.
The so-called XP Update Extender is an app that does exactly what its name suggests: it helps configure Windows XP in order to be identified as Windows XP POSReady 2009 in order to receive updates after April 2014 and thus remain secure even when new vulnerabilities are found.
“XP Update Extender allows you to receive updates for Windows XP until 2019. Therefore all it does is to set a registry key preventing to be a version of XP Embedded called POSReady,” the app description reads.
Since applying such hacks is quite an easy task for everyone, Microsoft recommends Windows XP users to try to stay away from these tweaks in order to make sure that their computers are fully secure. Microsoft says that POSReady updates aren't necessarily appropriate for Windows XP and even though they install just fine, it doesn't necessarily mean that your system is fully protected.
“We recently became aware of a hack that purportedly aims to provide security updates to Windows XP customers. The security updates that could be installed are intended for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 customers and do not fully protect Windows XP customers,” a company spokesperson said.
“Windows XP customers also run a significant risk of functionality issues with their machines if they install these updates, as they are not tested against Windows XP. The best way for Windows XP customers to protect their systems is to upgrade to a more modern operating system, like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.”
And still, this free app makes everything a lot easier for Windows XP users trying to stay secure, so download XP Update Extender if you'd like to configure the operating system to receive more updates.
Keep in mind however that Microsoft does not recommend users to apply such a registry hack and the company could very well block it at any point in the future with the help of a Patch Tuesday update or an out-of-band fix.