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Windows XP holdouts vulnerable to hackers

Windows XP holdouts vulnerable to hackers

Microsoft retiring XP on April 8, ending malware support in 2015

CBC News Posted: Feb 11, 2014 2:51 PM ET Last Updated: Feb 11, 2014 4:19 PM ET

Microsoft XP at risk of cyberattacks

Microsoft XP at risk of cyberattacks 3:02

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Are you still running Windows XP? Many governments, utilities, banks and businesses are, and they could be vulnerable to malware and hackers, especially when Microsoft stops providing free updates in April, an Ottawa security consultant warns.

"Ultimately, if you're running critical software on an architecture that has security flaws in it, you're eventually going to be bitten," said Chris Dodunski, chief technology officer at Phirelight Security Solutions.

Dodunski estimates that about half of government and business computers in Canada still use Windows XP due to the cost of upgrading.

Worldwide, as of January, about 30 per cent of desktop computers were still running the operating system released by Microsoft in 2001.

Microsoft is set to retire XP on April 8, and won't be providing support such as bug fixes after that, although it says it will extend anti-malware support until 2015. However, the company is encouraging users to upgrade to the latest version of its operating system, Windows 8.

  • up

    Central Scrutinizer

    do a machine with Windows 98, it's left alone and never attacked

    updates and some code altering needed, but runs great on a quad core processor ;)

    Winblows 98...it's the future!!! lol

    Stickin w/ the linux meself ;)~