IT Managers Preparing For The 'ApocalXPe'

[Audrey McNeil <audrey () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/it-managers-preparing-for-the-apocalxpe/

Support for Microsoft Windows XP ends April 8, leaving anyone using the
operating system open to hackers, malware, security breaches and with no
technical support, unless you pay big money for it.

Windows XP is still used on a surprisingly large percentage of the nation's
hardware -- 95 percent of ATMs, 96 percent of school computers, and 10
percent of federal computers, including those on classified military and
diplomatic networks, according to Grand Rapids tech consultants C/D/H.

How does that sit with you and your feelings of financial, identity, and
homeland security?

"It's hospitals, schools, government organizations, places where legacy
systems run and are connected to the Internet, that are the most
vulnerable, and also have the most sensitive information," C/D/H partner
Paul Hillman said. "Or the machine that has run your voicemail for the past
12 years that's been forgotten, for example. This is fertile ground for a
security breach of your network."

Hillman said C/D/H has advised its clients on switching operating systems,
so they can breathe easy. So can others who have been heeding Microsoft's
call to upgrade.

Industry experts are predicting the number of potential threats to XP will
grow very quickly and some believe malware authors are building attack
programs and saving them until the end of support hits.

Microsoft warns that an antivirus app is not a foolproof solution to an
outdated operating system, saying "our research shows the effectiveness of
anti-malware solutions on out-of-date software is limited."

Still, an estimated 30 percent of all computers connected to the Internet
are still running Windows XP, including more than 30 percent of personal
computers. And Microsoft is not budging on the April 8 deadline, as one can
see from the countdown clock that has been running since July.

Aside from the vulnerabilities of running an unsupported operating system,
businesses really can't afford to not upgrade. According to a white paper
sponsored by Microsoft, switching from XP to Windows 8 will save up to $700
per employee each year in decreased downtime, boot time, and IT costs,
yielding an ROI of 137 percent in three years. In addition, businesses
looking to arm themselves with the power of mobility and compatible
software applications need to make the switch.

And for those looking to upgrade, but unsure of making the leap to Windows
8, Windows 7 will be supported until 2020, when the next operating system
"apocalypse" is expected to occur.

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