Microsoft has maintained that will withdraw support for Windows XP and Office 2003 on April 8, 2014 urging users to explore new software innovation.[blockquote right=”pull-right” cite=”-Microsoft”]After April 8, PCs running Windows XP and Office 2003 should not be considered protected, and it is important that customers move to a supported operating system and productivity suite, like Windows 8 and Office 365, so they can receive regular security updates to help protect their computer from malicious attacks. The best way to ensure that you are keeping your personal data safe is to upgrade to a modern Windows PC or tablet.[/blockquote]
Microsoft which has supported the two products for over a decade says that it is withdrawing support for them to in line with current technological development.
The implication of this is that Windows XP users will no longer receive new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid support options or online technical content updates from the company, according to Microsoft.
From April 9, computers running Windows XP and Office 2003 will not stop working but security and performance will be affected overtime. New hardware (printer, scanner and other devices) may not support Windows XP; newer apps will not run on the operating system. It will also become vulnerable to viruses without critical security updates, the software maker says.
Jay Paulus, Director, Windows Marketing, Microsoft says that, “it’s been a great run for these popular products, but a decade later, times and technology have evolved. Windows XP and Office 2003 weren’t designed for the world we live in today, where technology is increasingly mobile and we have services like OneDrive, which give us access to our files wherever we are, not to mention the new generation of devices and the always-on Microsoft Office 365.”
Paulus further explains that “after April 8, PCs running Windows XP and Office 2003 should not be considered protected, and it is important that customers move to a supported operating system and productivity suite, like Windows 8 and Office 365, so they can receive regular security updates to help protect their computer from malicious attacks. The best way to ensure that you are keeping your personal data safe is to upgrade to a modern Windows PC or tablet.”
Home