Today is the 20th anniversary of Windows XP, and although the operating system reached the end of support in 2014, way too many people continue to use the insecure version of Windows.
Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001, and is considered one of the most loved versions of Windows due to its ease of use, fast performance, and stability.
Today, after Microsoft has released Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, a small but respectable number of people are still using the old operating system.
This continued usage is a testament to its success but also raises concerns regarding ts lack of security.
End of support since 2014
Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14, 2009, with extended support lasting another five years.
This means that anyone still running Windows XP has not received support from Microsoft for roughly 7.5 years now, including almost all security updates and fixes for vulnerabilities that may have been discovered.
That's a massive amount of time in tech and more than enough to render the operating system a security nightmare with likely a large number of unpatched vulnerabilities.
While Microsoft has backported fixes for some of the more serious vulnerabilities in Windows XP, such as EternalBlue and BlueKeep, there are many more vulnerabilities that threat actors could exploit.
This makes connecting a Windows XP device to the Internet a risky proposition and why all security professionals recommend users upgrade to a supported version of Windows.
Why are people still stuck on XP?
While Vista felt like an experimental release for a beta version, Windows 7 was an excellent and refined release, and so was Windows 10. So, why are some systems still using the outdated XP version?
The first category of systems that are still using Windows XP is those belonging to public sectors, known for their crawling upgrade speeds and hesitancy to use new technologies.
For many public entities, the bureaucracy of approving new system license purchases, upgrading hardware, and training the entire public sector is too complicated and costly.
The compatibility of custom-made 32-bit software tools is another crucial reason for still seeing XP in many places like industrial environments, hospitals, etc.
In many cases, there are no newer versions of these critical tools, or companies need to pay a lot of money to have them ported to new systems.
Then there's the category of people who are using hardware that is too old and weak to run a newer Windows version properly, and they see no good reason to replace something that is still (technically) working.
Shifting to Linux just for better support and security isn't an option for most of these people, because simply put, Windows XP is what they have been used to using for so many years now.
And in some cases, best highlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin two years ago, some consider Windows XP more trustworthy and safe against cyber-espionage than a newer version that sends large quantities of data back to Microsoft.
Windows 7 was when Microsoft added the "Telemetry" data collection system, and with Windows Vista being unreliable, those worried about this aspect of the OS's functionality are stuck with XP.
How many systems are still running Windows XP?
According to StatCounter, the percentage of Windows users using the XP version of the OS in September 2021 is 0.59%, a significant number when you consider how many Windows systems are deployed worldwide.
The NetMarketShare platform gives the Windows XP operating system a noteworthy 0.26% market share for September 2021.
We also checked BleepingComputer’s analytics, and for the running month alone, we’ve had 19,000 unique visitors connecting to the site with Windows XP systems.
One very notable case is that of Armenia, where Windows XP is the most popular OS, enjoying a share of 53.5% among Windows users.
While the market share for Windows XP is relatively low, too many organizations and users still run this legacy version of Windows.
With cyberattacks and ransomware a constantly evolving threat, using outdated and unsupported systems is too great a risk for organizations, especially if these devices power critical systems.
Comments
Some-Other-Guy - 2 years ago
If I want an OS that remains secure while I am online, I boot to a modified copy of Windows XP
If the security of my OS is not important, I boot to Windows 11, or 10, or 8.1 on the same machine
I will not be replacing my Sandy Bridge computers with any UEFI garbage
(even if it is FREE / or in stock)
ELeeBorder - 2 years ago
Not to worry, as every day that passes leads to Windows XP becoming *more* secure, on account of modern malware relying upon things it never had.
Sam Gunn - 2 years ago
I use Windows 10. But would it be possible to make an OS that looks like XP. It would have the same layout, but some things would be different. Like search. It would be faster than what XP has.
Also, how about a browser that looks like IE. At the top, it would have file, edit, view, favorites, tools, and help. If you click on tools, then internet options, then security, you can then set a site as not safe. Audio, and video would not play, and the page won't refresh. I hate it when news websites play video, or audio, or refresh every few minutes. If I want to play audio, or video, then just tell me that they are ready to play.
And don't refresh the site every few minutes. If I want the site refreshed, then I will do it my self.
Some-Other-Guy - 2 years ago
I use Windows XP because it "IS" Windows XP, not because it "LOOKS" like Windows XP
I use it because it is faster than Windows 10 and runs all my software that cannot be run in Windows 10
I use Firefox because I don't want a browser that looks or works like IE
I don't use Search either, and I set up Windows XP so that every Internet site is now safe to view, even the worst of the worst malware sites
I even turned off autoplay so video and sound files do not " A U T O P L A Y "
Sam Gunn - 2 years ago
"I use Windows XP because it "IS" Windows XP, not because it "LOOKS" like Windows XP
I use it because it is faster than Windows 10 and runs all my software that cannot be run in Windows 10
I use Firefox because I don't want a browser that looks or works like IE
I don't use Search either, and I set up Windows XP so that every Internet site is now safe to view, even the worst of the worst malware sites
I even turned off autoplay so video and sound files do not " A U T O P L A Y " "
I do have Windows XP as a virtual machine. But not able to connect to the internet. I do like some parts of Windows XP. But it takes a long time to search for programs.
I use IE to view this site, and a few others. I use Opera for news, and to see comics on Comics Kingdom, and I use it for Twitter. I use Firefox for some other sites, along with Google Chrome.
achzone - 2 years ago
Hi Sam Gunn,
"I use Windows XP because it "IS" Windows XP, not because it "LOOKS" like Windows XP. I use it because it is faster than Windows 10 and runs all my software that cannot be run in Windows 10"
A perfectly valid reason to still be able to use it. :)
"I do have Windows XP as a virtual machine. But not able to connect to the internet."
Do you mean you can't get it to connect to the Internet at all, or that you choose not to?
Because if you meant the former, I can assure you Windows XP run in a VM on Windows 10 (and even on Windows 11 for that matter) can quite happily and successfully connect to the Internet. Just takes a little configuration adustment is all.
I use Oracle VM VirtualBox to run everything from Windows 95 and later, all able to access the Internet. See my current list of VM's here:
https://filedn.com/lRckkYRfDkN7ybm1tRj3R6b/WindowsVirtualMachines.png
Sam Gunn - 2 years ago
Each time I click on the Firefox button, it says page can't be displayed. So I know I'm using an older version of Firefox. I could download Firefox onto Linux, and then transfer it to XP. Just have to make sure it is for Linux, and not XP. I don't think I ever done that before.
TanyaC - 2 years ago
"too many" is quite subjective. In your opinion maybe. People who are still on XP are there for a reason - and to them it's a perfectly valid reason.
JohnC_21 - 2 years ago
XP can be locked down fairly well with SRP and browsing in a sandbox but browsing sucks because XP doesn't support HTML5.
doriel - 2 years ago
Its more about browser, not OS. You can make web accept your XP by manually changing registry value for Windows version and build number.
doriel - 2 years ago
Security security security. Dont you have different way how to force users into doing what you want? No you dont. Its perfectly functional system. Cant you just respect others choice, please?
NoneRain - 2 years ago
The number of delusional comments here just portrait the vulnerable scenario we're living lol God bless if those folks are sysadm of something.
h_b_s - 2 years ago
God you XP apologists are selfish. The Internet is a COMMUNAL space, what you do on it effects everyone else connected to it. If the computer is of in a corner someplace and never gets connected to the outside world AT ALL, then no it doesn't really matter. But XP connected to the Internet is a loaded machine gun in the hands of a 2 year old kid, and most computer users have that same amount of maturity in using a computer as that toddler does with a gun. You don't even have the slightest effin clue if, when, or even how you've been pwned. Even after you've been repeatedly hacked. No XP is NOT secure. It is NOT safe, and no Telemetry didn't begin with Win 7, it actually started with XP in the telemetry extensions in SP3. It's just not widely remembered at this point because of the expansion of those extensions with Vista then eventually 8 & 10 overshadowed it.
We license gun owners. We license drivers. It's only the disconnected immediate effect of the cause that the general public can't seem to imagine that computers are as dangerous in their own way.
doriel - 2 years ago
Thats the opinion, that chnaged my mind. Not that I use XP, but I wanted to respect others choice. Thank you for enlightening post.
Some-Other-Guy - 2 years ago
My online XP box is completely safe
Just because you are incompetent does not mean everyone else is
If you cannot permanently infect or wreck my XP box, and yet you are still afraid that I may infect your Box, then the problem is with "YOUR" box
Please secure your Windows 10 and 11 installations immediately and stop spamming the comment section
achzone - 2 years ago
I think you're being way too judgmental with your rant there h_b_s. It's possible to run -ANY- old OS connected to the internet and cause zero harm to anyone else. See my current list of VMs below, all the way back to Windows 95, all accessing the Internet whenever I fire them up:
https://filedn.com/lRckkYRfDkN7ybm1tRj3R6b/WindowsVirtualMachines.png
I'm soon to add Windows 3.11 and Workgroups to the list as well.
Running every single system listed in ALL of the OS versions shown and connected to the Internet is harmless, not only to everyone else in the Internet COMMUNAL space you worry about so much, but also totally harmless to me. Why?
Because I never save sessions after using them. I power them up, do whatever I want on the Internet and yes, can be potentially infected with all manner of virus, trojan, and malware infections, and even added to Botnecks if I happen to visit some shady sites, but so what?
When I power them off, I save nothing of the session so EVERYTHING done or that happened on the Virtual Machine is cleared and lost forever because it returns to exactly the same perfectly clean state that I started it with when I used it.
Care to explain how my doing this can possibly harm or cause anyone else on the Internet any grief? No? I didn't think so.
Fact is, with a little common sense, there is no danger in running XP or any other end of life OS connected to the Internet. I could explain to you the benefits of running through a VPN tunnel when using them as well, but I doubt you'd take notice.
I think you're just being an alarmest because you don't understand how you can keep running XP (and any other end of life OS) with perfect safety, to both yourself, and everyone else.
Prove me wrong :-)
Cheers.
Great_White_Moose - 1 year ago
"God you XP apologists are selfish. The Internet is a COMMUNAL space, what you do on it effects everyone else connected to it."
"God you XP apologists are selfish"?
How so?
"The Internet is a "communal space"?
Again, how so?
"what you do on it effects everyone else connected to it."
I really don't see how my reading articles of interest, watching Youtube videos about cats, or downloading politically inappropriate memes etc affects anyone, beyond those people dumb enough to review my online history.
I'm reading, watching, and listening to online content.
I'm not engaging in activities that involve social distancing, masks, lubricants, condoms or any combination thereof. Not that anything of the sort could get past a good firewall/AV suite to start with. I guess you could make/post physables of those things and more, but why would you?
But, I did find your rant amusing.
Later gator.
atari_guy - 2 years ago
I have a VM with Windows XP that I use to maintain some C++ programs that use a library that only works with Visual Studio 6.
achzone - 2 years ago
I stay up to date with Windows OS's, but still enjoy firing up the older versions every now and then, right back to Windows 95!
https://filedn.com/lRckkYRfDkN7ybm1tRj3R6b/WindowsVirtualMachines.png
It's a hobby for me so adding more all the time. All have interenet access and not a one has been hacked yet. Just gotta use some basic AV protection and be careful where you go on the Internet :)
asrapila - 2 years ago
So many idiots whining over a dead OS, heaven for hackers.
gripyy - 2 years ago
we still use XP because
we have some special important programs which run only under XP
i m 64 Year old and i do not want to throw my 30 year experience in a garbage box.´
XP does not change, is constant, we have no virus problems
but we have virus problems with w10
We pay a little more for hardware - but cost of change to W10 would be 100x more
never change a running system.
We also have a lot of W10 computer - they need a lot of energy
XP is quicker than W10 - even in a simulation
search result of XP is better
surface is better organized
we have no problem to buy an expensive software, we have problems to teach many people to a new surface, to another design.
.