Microsoft ended support for the Windows XP operating system (OS) and Office 2003 on 8 April.
Microsoft will no longer provide security patches, software updates or technical support for Windows XP and Office 2003, and customers will not receive updates that help protect their PCs from viruses, spyware and other malicious software.
To celebrate the life of Windows XP, Microsoft Australia recently hosted a visit to Australia by Charles O’Rear, the photographer responsible for taking one of the most iconic photographs of all time. It has been suggested that ‘Bliss’ – the image that is the default desktop background for Windows XP – has been viewed by at least a billion people.
This is about protecting your home devices from security threats, especially if you are using the internet.
Describing the circumstances in which he captured the shot, O’Rear said, ‘When I was on my way to see my now wife, I saw the rolling hills in the Napa Valley and was instantly inspired. Most people don’t know that the site itself is now a working vineyard.’
Emmanuele Silanesu, Windows product manager at Microsoft, said, ‘Charles’ image has been synonymous with the popularity of Windows XP, and in much the same way that the physical landscape has changed, so has the technology landscape. Today advancements in technology enable our mobile, always-connected lives as well as letting us get our jobs done pretty much wherever we happen to be.’
There are also security reasons for moving away from Windows XP. Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report (Vol 15) found Windows XP SP3 to be over five times more vulnerable than Windows 8, along with an 82.4% higher malware infection rate.
‘While internet access brings a wealth of benefits, it can also be a hotbed for cyber criminals. So it’s really critical that consumers who still own Windows XP devices recognise that it’s not just about upgrading to something new. This is about protecting your home devices from security threats, especially if you are using the internet,’ said Silanesu.
‘Don’t expose yourself and your family with an unprotected PC. Upgrade to a Windows 8.1 device and Office 365 today.’
Retiring a product is a normal part of the product lifecycle, and Windows XP has been supported for more than 12 years, longer than any other Windows version.
For further information on upgrading your device, visit www.microsoft.com.au/goodbyexp
