Microsoft Windows XP

Windows XP - following, after Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium, the version operating system of corporation Microsoft released on October 25, 2001. By recognition of users, the most successful and stable OS in the Windows family.

In Windows XP integration of Windows 2000 into the Windows 98 and Windows Me systems is performed. The Windows XP system was created on the basis of the advanced Windows 2000 code, and different versions were developed for users of home computers and business users. Unlike Windows 2000 which was delivered both in server, and in client options Windows XP is exclusively client system. Its server option is the Windows Server 2003 system released later.

Since June 30, 2008 the Microsoft corporation stopped deliveries of Windows XP to large producers to the PC and retail networks. The small companies which will obtain licenses for XP until the end of January, 2009 became an exception. The same concerns also producers of supercheap PCs which will be able to put a system to the middle of 2010.

The main loop of support of OS came to the end in April, 2009, the expanded cycle of support which will last till April, 2014 works since then. In 2010 in Microsoft said that the possibility of a daungreyd with Windows 7 to Windows XP will be saved till 2020, having explained it with high popularity of a system. For July, 2010 this OS was used for 74% of corporate PCs worldwide.

Innovations

• Function of fast switching of users. When switching it is not required that the user who was earlier working on the computer quitted the system, saving the files opened for them. In Windows XP technologies of services of terminals thanks to which each new user session is started as a separate session of services of terminals in which data of each user are completely separated from each other are applied. Each such session requires in addition about 2 MB of RAM (without amount of memory, the used applications started in each of sessions).

• New style of a design. In Windows XP there are new styles of a design and subject in which 24-bit color icons and colors are used. The appearance of the Start menu is changed. At the beginning of the menu five most often used programs of the user and also programs of e-mail and the web browser applied by default are displayed.

• Search Companion search pane. In Windows XP search thanks to grouping of the problems of search connected with accomplishment on a special search pane (Search Companion) is simplified

• Grouping of files. The new principles of the organization of a task bar consisting in grouping of several documents of the same application are entered into Windows XP. For example, instead of placement on a task bar of several documents Microsoft Word in Windows XP these documents integrate in group which viewing can be executed when clicking one button task bars. And on a task bar only this button with information on the number of open documents of this application will be displayed. When clicking the button the vertical list with names of all documents is displayed.

• Support of new multimedia technologies.
  • Windows Media 8 Player. In Windows XP the eighth version of the Windows Media player in which the main transactions connected with processing of multimedia materials including reproduction of compact disks and DVD disks, control of the universal player, creation of multimedia files and compact disks, reproduction of Internet radio and record of multimedia files on portable devices are joint is used.
  • Windows Movie Maker. Windows Movie Maker of version 1.1 supports the main recording capabilities and creations of files in the Windows Media format and also editing video and audiomaterials, preserving and the publication of the Windows Media files. Though the used utility program provides materials only in the Windows Media format, with its help files of any format and with any type of compression supported by architecture of DirectShow can be imported.
  • Support of digital facsimiles. In Windows XP use of digital devices becomes simpler and enhanced capabilities for work with images are provided, for example, to their publication on the Internet, transfer of photos by e-mail (including in summary form), inclusion of pictures in automatic slide show and increase in scale of display of images.

• The improved compatibility with applications and devices. Windows XP includes support of Plug and Play technology for hundreds of devices which were not considered in Windows 2000 and also support of the bus USB (Universal Serial Bus), the IEEE 1394 standard, the PCI interface (Peripheral Component Interface) and many other standards and types of buses is improved.

• Own support of CD and DVD. Windows XP includes own support of a read and write of optical disks DVD-RAM and a possibility of reading the UDF 2.01 format (Universal Disk Format). Besides, using the IMAPI interface (Image Mastering API) the user of Windows XP can create compact disks in the formats allowing to perform single or repeated record (the CD-R or CD-RW), applying for this purpose a normal method of drag and drop or the corresponding masters. When preserving or copying the file on a compact disk the operating system creates its complete image on the hard drive of the computer in the beginning, and then transfers data to a compact disk recording device for carrying out final record.

• Mode of compatibility of applications. For use of applications which were developed initially for the previous versions of Windows and do not work in the environment of Windows XP, it is possible to use the mode of compatibility of applications. In this mode the environment of the previous versions of operating systems, starting with Windows 95 is emulated.

• The improved network services and the communication services
  • Support of the standard of Universal of the Plug and Play. The standard of Universal the Plug and Play allows devices to be connected dynamically to network, to receive the IP address, to announce the opportunities and to detect presence at network of other devices and to obtain information on their opportunities
  • Master of a home network. The master of a home network automates setup of network and internet connection sharing. Its work is carried out in the mode of the bridge (bridging mode) that allows to make installation of a local network, without demanding from the user of any knowledge concerning network protocols and physical features of the configured network.

• The integrated reference and support. Microsoft performed consolidation of help desk and technical support service thanks to what access to the removed assistant, automatic updates, the built-in reference and other means can be performed from the uniform center of the reference and support (Help and Support Center) now.

• The innovations improving work in the mobile mode
  • Power management. As well as in Windows 2000, power management in Windows XP it is based on the ACPI specification (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface). In Windows XP the ACPI specification implemented in Windows 2000 is used. Thanks to it there are available additional opportunities using which the operating system exercises power management of the computer and other equipment.
  • Improvements for mobile users
    • Support of ClearType technology. ClearType represents new technology of display of the text which is available in software products using which permission in horizontal direction increases three times. Thanks to it display of the text on standard digital LCD monitors significantly improves.
    • Automatic adjustment for several networks. Thanks to this opportunity the simple access to network devices and the Internet allowing to connect the portable computer both to corporate and to home networks is provided.

  • Remote control desktop. The possibility of use of a remote desktop (Remote Desktop) is based on technology of services of terminals. Thanks to the present possibility the user can start from any client working running the Microsoft Windows operating system applications on the remote computer working under control of Windows XP Professional.

• Improvement of reliability
  • Rollback of drivers. When updating the driver the copy of the previous packet of drivers automatically remains in the special subdirectory of system files. If the new driver unsatisfactorily works, the user can recover the previous version of the driver.
  • System recovery. The functionality of system recovery allows to return the computer in that status in which it was before emergence of a problem. At the same time there is no loss of personal data files which may contain, for example, documents, images or e-mail messages.
  • Disaster recovery of a system. Function of disaster recovery of a system (ASR — Automated System Recovery) allows to save and recover applications. This function provides sale of the mechanism of Plug and Play technology which is used for archiving of appropriate sections of the register and recovery of this information in the register

• Security improvements
  • Firewall. In Windows XP safety of the Internet is ensured using the built-in function called by the firewall. The firewall is the dynamic package filter. It provides protection of the computers which are directly connected to the Internet or connected via the computer which is a node of the general access to Internet connection (ICS — Internet Connection Sharing) on which the firewall is located. At turning on of the firewall blocking of all attempts of connections performed from the Internet which were not requested by local users is provided.
  • Controlled access to network. In Windows XP there is a built-in function of a security system which interferes with access for malefactors, limiting the rights granted to the user trying to get from network access to your computer, a set of privileges of an account Guest.
  • Encoded file system. The encoded file system (EFS — Encrypting File System) is based on public key cryptography; in it the architecture of CryptoAPI applied in the Windows XP operating system is used. The expanded algorithm of DESX (Data Encryption Standard) or an algorithm of 3DES (Triple-DES) is applied to enciphering in the EFS system. The procedure of enciphering can be performed from Windows conductor.

Editions

• Windows XP Professional Edition is the operating system developed for business users contains such functions as remote access to a computer desktop, enciphering of files, central office access rights and support of multiple processor systems.

• Windows of XP Home Edition is a system for users of home computers. Is issued as the inexpensive "cut-down" version of Professional Editon, but is based on the same core and by means of some acceptances allows to carry out updating to almost full version of the Professional Edition.

• Windows XP Starter Edition is the system which is specially developed for beginning users. Extends only with new computers of initial level. Windows XP Starter Edition includes only the main opportunities of Windows XP.

• Windows XP 64-bit Edition - the 64-bit edition was created counting on use of opportunities of the Intel processor Itanium 64-bit (IA-64). In Windows XP 64-Bit Edition support up to 16 gigabytes of OZU and to the 8th terabyte of a virtual memory is provided. A system since 2005 does not develop as the HP company stopped development of workstations with Itanium microprocessors.

• Windows XP Media Center Edition is the operating system constructed based on Windows XP Professional with a little cut down set of network capabilities and containing additional multimedia opportunities.

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is the special 64-bit version developed for AMD64 Opteron and Athlon 64 processors of AMD company and processors with EM64T technology of Intel company

• Windows XP Embedded is a component version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional with additional opportunities for embedding and the tools supporting development process of specialized images of the operating system.

• Windows Embedded for Point of Service is the specialized software platform focused on networks of retail and the enterprise of the service industry. Based on Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2, Windows Embedded for Point of Service technologies allows the companies working with retail to hotels and also system integrators to simplify installation, use and management of the terminal systems.

• Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is the operating system for outdated PCs created based on Microsoft Windows XP Embedded Service Pack 2.

Updates

Service Pack 1

The first service pack for Windows XP  — Service Pack 1 (SP1) left on September 9, 2002. Among the innovations which appeared in it it should be noted:

• Support of USB 2.0
• Possibility of the choice of the programs used by default for different transactions
• The encoded file system (EFS) got support of enciphering of AES with a 256-bit key.
• Support of hard drives with a capacity more than 137 GB

Service Pack 2

The second service Service Pack 2 (SP2) service pack left on August 6, 2004 and added the following functions and opportunities to the operating system:

• The new component "Windows Security Center" intended for observation of security of the computer: viewing status of the firewall (firewall), parameters of automatic update and antivirus.
• The updated Windows firewall.
• Blocking of pop-up windows in the Internet Explorer browser.
• Advanced Outlook Express, with the new Manager of investments (Attachment Manager) who isolates investments when opens them. It prevents opening of potentially dangerous investments which can infect a system with a virus or other dangerous code.
• The improved support of wireless networks
• New drivers and updates
• The improved autostart functions, etc.

Service Pack 3

On April 21, 2008 Microsoft released the third and last large service pack for Windows XP, but only for OEM-and business clients. Other users had an opportunity to load the third service pack on May 6 though originally software giant was going to release it on April 29, 2008. The week delay was connected with some compatibility issues between Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) — the solution for small and medium business — and the Vista SP1 and XP SP3 service packs.

Originally the RTM version of Windows XP SP3 appeared in the Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish languages. After a while, Microsoft released other 18 localizations.

The third service packet includes all updates released after a release of Windows XP Service Pack 2 in 2004 and also function of protection of network access (Network Access Protection), the new model of activation borrowed Windows Vista and the improved detection of so-called routers-" of black holes".

2017: Continuation of release of updates

In June, 2017 Microsoft released corrections for three vulnerabilities in Windows XP which attacked hacker tools of the American intelligence agencies. Earlier the corporation refused to do it. Support of this OS is stopped in 2014.^[1]

Microsoft changed the solution after massive epidemic of the encoder racketeer of WannaCry using the EternalBlue exploit for infection of computers. It is one of the tools stolen at the Equation cybergrouping which as it is considered, is affiliated with Agency on national security of the USA. In distribution of these tools - exploits, backdoors, etc. - the The Shadow Brokers group was engaged.

Microsoft provided new patches for Windows XP

EternalBlue was published by The Shadow Brokers in the middle of April, 2017. Released several days before Microsoft a number of the emergency patches for the developments. As it became clear after release from Shadow Brokers, these patches just and closed the multiple vulnerabilities used by hackers of Equation. Apparently, Microsoft someone warned in advance.

At the same time the management of Microsoft refused to release updates for the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems, having referred to the fact that they are removed from technical support for a long time.

New patches correct the vulnerabilities attacked by exploits under code names of ENGLISHMANDENTIST (to vulnerability in Outlook), ESTEEMAUDIT (IIS 6.0) and EXPLODINGCAN (RDP).

Windows XP takes the fourth place in the world on prevalence: the share of the operating system makes 5.66%^[2]. In China, some countries of Asia and Africa Windows XP is still very widespread. Also hundreds of thousands of ATMs worldwide still work running specialized versions of this operating system. Support of two of them - Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 and Standard 2009 - will remain till 2019.

After the end of support Windows XP the Microsoft company was forced to release the emergency patch for the new detected vulnerabilities in the Internet Explorer browser (versions 6-11) on all versions of Windows, including XP.

Patches for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 against the vulnerabilities operated by the Equation/the NSA, Microsoft was not going to release initially, referring to the fact that these systems are removed from support and that users should pass to newer software products long ago. However soon after epidemic of WannaCry, Microsoft changed the solution, referring to shared state of "a landscape of threats".

Studying the updates prepared this month, we defined a number of vulnerabilities on which with a high share of probability cyber attacks from the government organizations can be made... or their imitators, said in the statement of Microsoft. – To reduce the degree of threat, we publish additional security updates in excess of what will leave within the regular Update Tuesday program. These updates will be available to all users, including those who uses old versions of Windows. In view of the increased threat of destructive cyber attacks, we made the decision to take such step as these updates will provide additional protection against the possible attacks similar on the characteristics[3]

Microsoft calls this step "rare" and urge not to consider it as derogation from their standards of technical support. Experts are inclined to believe that similar "rare steps" will repeat from time to time.

In this case the situation could be hardly resolved somehow differently, - Ksenia Shilak, the sales director of Sec-Consult company considers. - On the one hand, Windows XP became outdated in every respect, on the other hand millions of users continue by it to use, sometimes by force. Selecting, to leave these users without protection before possible new cyberepidemic or to renounce some principles of business, Microsoft stopped on the second option. It is quite risky step, but from the ethical point of view it looks more correct.

System Requirements

Minimum requirements to the equipment for the Windows XP installation:

• The Pentium processor with a frequency of 233 MHz or faster (not less than 300 MHz are recommended)
• Not less than 64 MB of RAM (not less than 128 MB are recommended)
• Not less than 1.5 GB of an empty seat on the hard drive
• CD or DVD driver
• The keyboard, a mouse of Microsoft Mouse or the compatible specifying device
• The video card and monitor supporting the Super VGA mode with permission of not less than 800x600 points
• Sound card, loudspeakers or earphones (optionally)

Problems

Installation of the third service pack (SP3) for Windows XP, led to problems in operation of the PC more than once. So in the press cases of infinite reset of some PCs after SP3 installation were described. At the same time there was unavailable a safe mode giving an opportunity to roll away the operating system in the previous status. At the forums devoted to this subject, users noted that after installation of the third service pack their system rebooted, but could not start start of Windows, each time again sending the computer to reset.

The former security director of products of Microsoft Jesper Johansson having analyzed messages at forums also came to a conclusion that this problem arose for two reasons independent from each other. The first that marked out Johansson, is that in many cases the problem arose on computers of production of Hewlett-Packard (HP) company. According to the specialist, it could be connected with the fact that HP and also, perhaps, and other computer makers, during factory installation of the operating system used the same image for computers with Intel processors and AMD. As a result the intelppm.sys driver was responsible though for systems with AMD processors there is an own amdk8.sys driver for power management on all PCs. According to Yokhansson, start of the intelppm.sys driver on the computer with the AMD processor in usual conditions did not lead to failure, however with installation of the third service pack it resulted in impossibility of loading of the operating system, or independent reset at once at its start. Other reason, according to the specialist, was connected from the BIOS motherboard of Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe and probably other boards with AMD processors.

The problem was solved by shutdown of the intelppm.sys driver or connection to the computer of an USB flash card or any other secondary drive.

In addition, some users complained that after the Service Pack 3 installation in the register of their system there was a large number of the damaged records, and from the folder of network connections network interface cards vanished. Other users announced the same problems arising after updating on computers with the products Norton. The senior director on products of Symantec Dave Cole recognized that a number of users of programs of the Norton series had problems, however their quantity is small. According to him, Symantec held testing of the products with Windows XP SP3, but did not find errors. Cole accused Microsoft of all troubles, having told that it is connected with a packet of XP SP3 which already caused problems in users of some computers.

Microsoft reacted to this situation as follows: "The clients having problems with installation should contact the Support service of Microsoft which can provide the free help and councils for elimination of the arisen malfunctions".

After a while, the Symantec company nevertheless undertook a part of responsibility and released the special free SymRegFix utility which allows to clean the register from the damaged records. Besides, to the users of programs of Norton who were not in time to set the third service pack for Windows XP yet in Symantec recommended to turn off the SymProtect function before updating of OS to exclude risk of damage of the register.

News about Windows XP

Emergence on Vladimir Putin's computer

In the middle of December, 2019 it became known that the president Russia Vladimir Putin uses the outdated Microsoft Windows XP operating system as on the computer at the office in the Kremlin, and in the official residence Novo-Ogaryovo of an entrance Moscow. Issued the president of the photo, published by his press service.

It became known that the President of Russia Vladimir Putin uses the outdated Microsoft Windows XP operating system

On a photo from the November press release Putin sits at the computer in the Moscow residence, on a desktop the image of towers of the Kremlin is set. The bright blue task bar in the bottom of the screen says that on the computer the Windows XP operating system is installed.

Microsoft stopped releasing regular security updates for Windows XP and Office 2003 in April, 2014. By December, 2019 warning hangs on the official website that use of the operating system "it is integrated to risk for safety of the user".

Vladimir Putin did not begin to upgrade to newer version of Microsoft 10, following governmental decrees

Windows XP released in 2001 became the last Microsoft operating system which received certification from the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control and is considered safe for use on official Russian government computers. Later version of Windows 10 is approved only for devices which do not contain the state secrets that hardly belongs to Vladimir Putin's computers. The president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov did not begin to comment on a question why Putin continues to use the outdated Microsoft operating system.

The journalist Philip Ingram who was earlier serving in the British intelligence assumed that the publication of such picture could be performed intentionally with the purpose to learn how the western countries and the rest of the world will react to news about the vulnerable software.^[4]

Support of Windows XP

Support of Windows XP Service Pack 2 will continue till 2020

After the declaration of completion of official support of Windows XP Service Pack 2 the message that users of some editions Windows 7 will save an opportunity to use Windows XP as early as the whole 10 years arrived. The similar solution rather rare for Microsoft.

It was still reported that Microsoft is going to set a return deadline to Windows XP six months since Windows 7 launch. After Microsoft expanded with the little term up to one and a half years, and for Windows XP date of placement of the first packet of corrections of Windows 7 SP1 was appointed number "x".

Microsoft cannot ignore that Windows XP still enjoys popularity. The management of Microsoft recognizes that 74% of corporate computers still work running Windows XP. And now managers of the company announced change of the plans. On them owners of Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate will have an opportunity to return to Windows XP Professional until there lives "seven", and it releases term till January, 2020. Windows XP Ultimate Edition will work till January, 2015.

It should be noted that this solution extends only to the OEM copies of Windows 7 installed by PC makers on new machines. "The organizations and individuals buying new computers will be able to use the right of return to Windows XP and Vista until decide to pass to Windows 7", - the manager of Microsoft Brandon LeBlanc on the official blog of the company informed.

As for other terms set to Microsoft concerning Windows, they will remain in force. Equipment manufacturers will complete installation of Windows XP Home on netbooks by the end of 2010. And in a year on show-windows deliveries of computers from the set Vista will stop.

Microsoft will be forced to continue support of Windows XP for a long time

Microsoft will be forced to continue to support Windows XP after official completion of work with OS on April 8, 2014. On December 17, 2012 ComputerWorld reported about it.

The corporation is going to stop distributing at the beginning of April, 2014 official security updates and any corrections for the Windows XP operating system which at that time will be 13 years old. However, according to current contracts, the company will be forced to continue support. As the motivating actions for transition to newer versions of OS, provide higher cost of support of old software products into Microsoft.

ComputerWorld quotes opinion of the analyst Michael Cherry according to which, failure of Microsoft from support and service of the companies with Windows XP can "painfully strike" security as clients, and to cause big problems on the Internet. "It can become world crisis of technologies", - told Cherry. – I think that Microsoft should draw the correct conclusions and to continue to release updates and corrections to OS".

According to the analyst of Gartner John Pescatore, the only option at which Microsoft will support nevertheless Windows XP – business reasons, for preserving of the customer base.

Experts give one more argument for benefit of support of Windows XP: "If the company refuses support, then it can be a powerful push for cybercriminals for whom it will be an open door in computers of the users deprived of updates and corrections in a security system. If it occurs, then such act can strongly strike reputation of Microsoft", - the manager on researches and developments of VMware Jason Miller told.

According to experts, the problem of updating of Windows XP is also in what most of users of OS have also and an obsolete equipment. And updating of all infrastructure can cost much more, than is selected for that means.

According to ComputerWorld metrics by the beginning of 2014 about 25% of all users of products of Microsoft will use Windows XP.

In the general opinion of experts, a problem of transfer of users with Windows XP to newer versions of OS – one of the most sick and difficult for Microsoft. "I would not like to work in Microsoft committee on the solution of this problem", - Michael Cherry concluded.

Microsoft urges state agencies of Russia "get down" with Windows XP and Office 2003

By September, 2013 the federal state unitary enterprise on deliveries of products of the Presidential Property Management Department of the Russian Federation was prepared by the letter for heads of state agencies in which reminds them of the future termination of Microsoft of release of the certified updates for Windows XP and Office 2003 OS, including – connected with a security system.

"According to the requirements of FSTEC of Russia stated including in appropriate certificates to the specified products of the certified version the certified security updates, said in the letter of presidential federal state unitary enterprise on deliveries of products should be set. – Therefore the lack of the set certified updates leads to the fact that the installed certified products cease to conform to the requirements specified in certificates".

Prepared the letter for state agencies of federal state unitary enterprise on deliveries of products after obtaining the message from the president of Microsoft International Jean-Philippe Courtois about the termination of support of Windows XP and Office 2003 OS.

In it it is noted that continuation of use of these products "bears risks of mismatch to requirements and potentially threatens security of information of customers, partners, employees and the organization in general". With respect thereto Microsoft recommended to update these products to new versions.

"In spite of the fact that April, 2014 seems the remote term today, we understand that changes in infrastructure require serious time expenditure, careful planning and preparation, - Jean-Filip Courtois wrote. – I would like to be convinced that federal state unitary enterprise on deliveries of products of the Presidential Property Management Department of the Russian Federation migrated with Windows XP and Office 2003 before April, 2014".

In the letter for state agencies of federal state unitary enterprise on deliveries of products reminded that as of September, 2013 FSTEC certificates have Windows 7 OS SP1 and Office 2010 Pro Plus, and obtaining certificates is expected in the nearest future on Windows 8 OS and Office 2013.

2014: Technical support of Windows XP and Office 2003 is stopped

On April 8, 2014 the Microsoft company announced the termination of technical support of the Windows XP operating system and a packet of office applications of Office 2003.

Since April 8, 2014 to devices running Windows XP OS stop being the updates of a security system, automatic corrections which are not connected with security, paid or free services of support, updating of technical documentation on the Internet are available. Terms of the termination of support of Windows XP correspond to policy of the guaranteed support of products of Microsoft announced by the company in 2002.

The research Telecom Daily confirms interest of the companies in transition to new versions of OS. The information and analytical agency polled representatives more than three thousand companies in all federal districts of the Russian Federation. It is established that the Russian companies and the organizations still actively use Windows XP. Running this OS about 42% of working computers operate. Among respondents within the research of the companies more than 95% of the market in a segment "are the share of OS of the Windows family to the company and the organization".

The research also showed that nearly 63% of users of Windows XP are informed on the end of its technical support. At the same time, the Windows families this year are going to pass more than 40% of respondents to modern license OS and another 28% are going to make it within the next 2-3 years. Also it became clear that the main problem of transition to relevant Windows OS is fear of incompatibility of programs and applications and also a lack of means.

"Windows XP was released more than 12 years ago therefore today it lags behind new versions of OS on the whole three generations and any more cannot protect your data from security risks fully. Besides, for these years modern technologies evolved dramatically forward: learned to store data in a cloud, having left in the past of a diskette and disks. There were such concepts as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and Big Data. It is obvious that during creation of Windows XP all this could not be considered therefore today old OS does not allow to follow relevant IT trends. It can be not compatible to many modern equipment and applications, – Sergey Martsynkyan, the promotions manager of Windows, Microsoft company in Russia told. – To correspond to new needs and expectationses of our clients, we create modern technologies and products".

"Opposition between those who attack, and those who protect operating systems does not stop for a second. It is worth to remember that since 2001 when Windows XP appeared, cyber-fraud from overindulgence of single advanced amateur hackers turned into multi-billion international business. Malefactors get huge profits, operating the unprotected PCs. Without updating the OS and applications and also thinking of use of piracy versions of software, the enterprises and private users risk to fall a victim of cyber-criminals, putting at risk own and corporate data, financial resources and reputation", - Andrey Beshkov, the manager of programs of information security in the Microsoft company CIS countries in Russia emphasized.

Use of the outdated operating system can also become an obstacle at connection new or updating of the existing equipment. Windows XP does not support a number of the opportunities which were highly demanded by users and available in modern OS. So, for example, at the time of release of Windows XP such functions as support of Wi-fi and Bluetooth, monitors of high resolution and touch screens were not widespread.

"By our estimates, the companies which use Windows XP as the corporate standard becomes less. Transition to new versions of operating systems guarantees to the organizations regular receiving updates of security systems, cost reduction on support of IT infrastructure, work with modern applications and the equipment, - Denis Kuskov, the CEO of the information and analytical agency Telecom Daily noted. - It is also promoted by approach of Microsoft to work with customers, the company always remembers the clients: this is the leader of the industry with unique and convincing vision of security issues, confidentiality and reliability of your data".

Links

• Technical overview of the Windows XP operating system
• System requirements for the Windows HR operating systems
• Windows XP in the Russian Wikipedia
• Microsoft Windows XP rates
• Overview of the Windows XP 64-bit Edition operating system
• Windows XP was removed from the pipeline
• Microsoft released Windows XP SP3 only for corporate clients
• Windows XP SP3 damages the register