Is Windows XP Pro safe for internet use?

[bupkus]

I have licences for Windows XP Pro and Vista Business (both 32-bit) that I'd like to use for internet including maybe online banking. Can I do this safely... as safely as Windows 7?

 

[Nothinman]

Vista will be a lot safer than XP, if slightly more annoying than Win7 because of the number of UAC prompts relatively. But XP is almost a decade old and about to be EOL'd, why would you start new with it?

 

[lxskllr]

I wouldn't use XP for anything, other than necessary legacy compatibility. I go with Vista or newer, or Linux.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Agreed.. if you have the choice go with Vista or better yet 7.

 

[nemesismk2]

I went from windows xp to vista and hated it so went back to windows xp. I didn't like windows 7 at the start but it's growing on me slowly but I still love windows xp 😉

 

[zokudu]

Move on from XP if possible.

 

[Texashiker]

I have licences for Windows XP Pro and Vista Business (both 32-bit) that I'd like to use for internet including maybe online banking. Can I do this safely... as safely as Windows 7?

Yes - especially if you use firefox.

If there is one thing about XP, it has been hardened through years of updates and security patches.

People might say that windows 7 is more secure then XP, but I see just as many malware infections (maybe more) on windows 7 as I do on XP. As XP reaches its end of life, I look for it to be less secure. But at this point in time, XP is a fine operating system, and will be for years to come.

 

[JackMDS]

Security is a relative term.

Win XP as is does not have good Firewall and other means of Native defense.

It can be better protected with good security software.

Otherwise, it depends on the surfing habits, and his/her social/business milieu.

If you visit sites that are invested in trying to compromise your system (and I am sure that you know which one I am referring to), or you have a specifc situation in which you are personly targetd by Hackers, then you are better off with Win 7.

In other words there are millions of nice normal people that No one target them, they are not looking for "trouble" and have good email habits using Win XP, and have No security problems.



😎

 

[Matt1970]

Yes - especially if you use firefox.

If there is one thing about XP, it has been hardened through years of updates and security patches.

People might say that windows 7 is more secure then XP, but I see just as many malware infections (maybe more) on windows 7 as I do on XP. As XP reaches its end of life, I look for it to be less secure. But at this point in time, XP is a fine operating system, and will be for years to come.

This is true. Any added security in Vista/7 is quickly negated due to people going to malicious websites and blindly clicking "Yes" or "Continue" during program updates and then claim they have no idea how 17 toolbars and deskbars ended up on their pc.

 

[nk215]

I have licences for Windows XP Pro and Vista Business (both 32-bit) that I'd like to use for internet including maybe online banking. Can I do this safely... as safely as Windows 7?

A dedicated machine with XP (Sp3) for online banking is much safer than a Win 7 everyday-use-and-btw-online-banking-too, especially if that Win7 is also shared by a teenager.

When surf the web in protected mode (sandboxie, virtual machine with linux, drop my rights, etc). The chance of getting anything on your computer is very small.

If you want to me more secure, use an onscreen keyboard to put in the password to avoid key-logger. That's pretty paranoid however.

 

[VirtualLarry]

XP Pro, with SRP implemented, as well as seperate Admin and Internet accounts, is relatively bulletproof to most drive-by malware, even without an AV installed.

Indeed, it's probably more secure than Win7 HP, which does not have SRP.

 

[Lemon law]

I agree, while vista and win7 have better security designs, XP with a full software restriction policy is totally safe.

And for that matter, I still use XP because I see no reason to shower microsoft with money everytime they get the bright idea to bring forth a new and worse bloatware OS.

By now, its childs play for me to add in an almost bulletproof XP security system. The very security system Microsoft can and should be responsible for adding to XP, but gasp, if we required that of Bill Gates, no one would bother to buy his new brain fart OS's. That soon will need a newer OS, in a orgy of calculated obsolesce at our own expenses.

 

[lowrider69]

One of my machines still has XP on it and my GF uses it all of the time to go on the internet. If you're behind a router, fully patched and up to date on everything, have a good AV, use a up to date browser(FF4 for us with NoScript) and common sense you should be o.k.. I also have a third party firewall on that machine.

 

[Nothinman]

One of my machines still has XP on it and my GF uses it all of the time to go on the internet. If you're behind a router, fully patched and up to date on everything, have a good AV, use a up to date browser(FF4 for us with NoScript) and common sense you should be o.k.. I also have a third party firewall on that machine.

The last two things are the problem. Most people won't deal with NoScript because it breaks too much and common sense is hard to come by.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Hold on, win7 doesn't have SRP?? please explain.

XP Pro, with SRP implemented, as well as seperate Admin and Internet accounts, is relatively bulletproof to most drive-by malware, even without an AV installed.

Indeed, it's probably more secure than Win7 HP, which does not have SRP.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Vista SP2 or later is immensely better than XP. I'll never install XP again.

 

[lowrider69]

The last two things are the problem. Most people won't deal with NoScript because it breaks too much and common sense is hard to come by.

I agree. If you spend about 5 minutes with NoScript and learn how to use it you won't have issues. Everybody in my family uses it and I never heard anybody bitching about a site not working because they learned how to use it. It's not complicated. I use it with FF on my Windows 7 machine as well.