14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows XP source code has leaked online and is now available for download from torrent sites, so pretty much anyone can get it if they know where to look.
While several sites have already pulled the download links, the number of download mirrors is increasing at a super-fast speed, so it’s unlikely that the source code would just disappear.
By the looks of things, the source code, which has until now been kept private by Microsoft and only shared with governments as part of a dedicated program, is entirely legitimate, albeit it’s not known exactly how it got leaked to the web.
The Redmond-based software giant has remained completely tight-lipped on the leak.
Several users on Twitter claim that the source code for the original Xbox is included as well, however we can’t verify this at the time of writing. On the other hand, anyone can review the source code as plenty of download links already appear in Google search results.
Windows XP already out of support
What does this mean for users? Not much.
Windows XP no longer receives support since April 2014, so the operating system is officially discontinued right now. While many believed that Microsoft should have made Windows XP open source in the first place, this isn’t necessarily an approach that the Redmond-based tech giant would be a big fan of.
But despite Windows XP no longer getting any updates (the latest patch it received was an emergency fix in 2017 when the WannaCry started wreaking havoc around the world), it doesn’t necessarily mean that everybody abandoned it.
According to third-party data from NetMarketShare, more than 1% of the world’s PCs are still running Windows XP, although there’s a chance that many of these computers already come with other security measures in place.
Windows XP is most often still used by governments and agencies across the world where the upgrade to a newer version of the operating system would involve other costs too because of app compatibility and hardware investments. So many of them decided to stick with Windows XP on some computers and enable other security measures, such as limited Internet access.
Of course, Microsoft recommends everyone to just make the switch to newer Windows that still receives support.
“If you continue to use Windows XP now that support has ended, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Internet Explorer 8 is also no longer supported, so if your Windows XP PC is connected to the Internet and you use Internet Explorer 8 to surf the web, you might be exposing your PC to additional threats. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter more apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP,” the company explains.
Needless to say, the software giant’s recommendation is Windows 10, but a computer that was manufactured nearly 20 years to run Windows 10 doesn’t have the hardware to meet the requirements of the new OS. Windows 8.1 also continues to receive support until 2023, but the same thing applies here too, as hardware upgrades might be required to be able to run it.
Microsoft has also abandoned Windows 7 earlier this year, albeit the company keeps providing security updates to companies that are paying for them as part of the ESU program. However, Windows 7 devices should also be upgraded to supported Windows as soon as possible for continued support.