(courtesy EcommerceBytes Newsletter)
Sat Apr 5 2014 08:38:21
Warning to Online Merchants Using Windows XP Operating System
Do you know which operating system is running on your computers and laptops? For a threat that sounds as potentially dangerous as Y2K, there's relatively little awareness of the "Windows XP problem." On Tuesday, April 8, 2014, Microsoft will stop supporting the Windows XP Operating System, leaving many computers vulnerable to virus and malware. And it's sure to effect a lot of online sellers, both large and small, not to mention online shoppers.
Articles about the topic project 10% of computers will still be using Windows XP after the April 8 deadline. And that includes ATM machines and computers in healthcare settings - and the federal government.
Microsoft has created pages on its website to help consumers and businesses learn more. What does the end of support for XP mean? "Without Microsoft support, you will no longer receive security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal your personal information." The company has no shame in using the pages to push people into buying new computers running its Windows 8 operating system - though some experts advise moving to Windows 7, which is more popular than the newer version.
In an article on Friday, BusinessWeek said XP is the second-most-used OS in the world, behind Windows 7, and its customers account for more than 18 percent of Internet users, according to StatCounter.
MakeUseOf was on top of the problem last year. In this August article, it offers practical tips for those with XP systems. The best advice appears to be taking the computers offline altogether and use USB flash drives to transfer data if needed. You can use the programs (like Word and Excel), but don't use it for browsing the Internet or checking email. (Of course, that still leaves you needing a computer you can use to go online.) MakeUseOf offers advice on how to minimize the risk these computers present to their owners.
Here's how to learn if this problem affects you: when you turn on your computer, watch the screen - it will tell you what kind of operating system your computer is running. You can also go to Start - All Programs - Accessories folder - Systems Tool folder - when you click on System Information, the first line reads "OS Name" - that will tell you if you are running Microsoft Windows XP. (If you use Microsoft Windows 7 or 8, this problem won't apply to you.)
Once you've checked your own business and home computers, be sure to check with family members, friends and neighbors.
One can only hope Microsoft will extend the deadline til the end of the year to give people more time to become aware of the problem and deal with it. But don't count on it!