windows xp security essentials question

[nemesismk2]

I do release that microsoft will stop support for windows xp after april 2014 BUT if they want to avoid a huge windows xp botnet problem do you think microsoft will atleast keep the definitions coming for security essentials?

 

[ViRGE]

Really only MS knows the answer to that. But no, I wouldn't expect them to go out of their way to keep definitions up to date. Once the Win6.x version moves on, the XP version will be left behind.

 

[nemesismk2]

Really only MS knows the answer to that. But no, I wouldn't expect them to go out of their way to keep definitions up to date. Once the Win6.x version moves on, the XP version will be left behind.

That is a shame because there is still a lot of windows xp users and i think in april 2014 windows xp will be hanging on in the millions. Atleast ubuntu 14.04 lts should (crossed fingers) be available for windows xp users who want a secure operating system. that would be one in the eye for microsoft if windows xp users decides to use ubuntu instead of windows 7 or 8 lol

 

[smakme7757]

But i thought Microsoft Security Essentials was a separate/stand alone product?

Or does MS disable updates within the program if it's running on an unsupported system?

 

[Ketchup]

They could get away with either, but I don't suspect them allowing the backlash that would come from stopping the av updates.

Of course, this is the same company that gave us Windows ME, Vista, and 8, so who knows.

 

[ViRGE]

But i thought Microsoft Security Essentials was a separate/stand alone product?

Or does MS disable updates within the program if it's running on an unsupported system?

It is stand alone. But why would they release a new version of MSE for an EOL OS? Consequently at some point going out of their way to make definitions for an old version of MSE will stop making sense.

 

[Ketchup]

It is stand alone. But why would they release a new version of MSE for an EOL OS? Consequently at some point going out of their way to make definitions for an old version of MSE will stop making sense.

So, are we sure the definition updates would need to be any different?

 

[corkyg]

There is no difference that I can see between the current Win 7 version and XP version of MSE. I just manually ran updates for both systems, and they are identical.

Version:4.3.215.0
Engine: 1.1.9901.0
Definitions: 1.159.173.0

Looks to me like not to worry.

 

[Iron Woode]

There is no difference that I can see between the current Win 7 version and XP version of MSE. I just manually ran updates for both systems, and they are identical.

Version:4.3.215.0
Engine: 1.1.9901.0
Definitions: 1.159.173.0

Looks to me like not to worry.

yup, there is only 32bit and 64bit versions. I have never seen an XP only edition.

although, it wouldn't surprise me if MS did that.

 

[corkyg]

yup, there is only 32bit and 64bit versions. I have never seen an XP only edition.

although, it wouldn't surprise me if MS did that.

The groundwork is laid in Win 8 and 8.1. They do not use MSE per se - but a more integrated variant of it. If the variant (Windows Defender) is made to integrate into Win7, then maybe MS could just terminate NSE altogether.

 

[escrow4]

If you still use XP you deserve to get infected over and over until you give up that old dog of an OS. Move on already.

Hey, be nice now...
-ViRGE

 

[Ketchup]

XP has served as a great VM OS for me. Vista, 7, and 8 just don't handle it well, probably because they are optimized for more RAM and cores than you want on a Virtual Machine. XP just works - and does it well. Considering their OS release strategy, Microsoft did almost too good a job with it (at least after SP2).

 

[denis280]

Windows ME

Good old days.

 

[nemesismk2]

XP has served as a great VM OS for me. Vista, 7, and 8 just don't handle it well, probably because they are optimized for more RAM and cores than you want on a Virtual Machine. XP just works - and does it well. Considering their OS release strategy, Microsoft did almost too good a job with it (at least after SP2).

I agree that microsoft did too good a job with windows xp which is why i still like using it although i also have windows 7 and ubuntu 12.04 to fall back on if i have too.

 

[sweenish]

There is no difference that I can see between the current Win 7 version and XP version of MSE. I just manually ran updates for both systems, and they are identical.

Version:4.3.215.0
Engine: 1.1.9901.0
Definitions: 1.159.173.0

Looks to me like not to worry.

Still some worry, as XP users are using an unsafe OS. It's simply not as secure as the newer versions. Vista was a massive leap in OS security.

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Microsoft probably does some testing and validation on Windows XP for MSE updates as well as definitions. I'm not sure they'd be willing to do any of that work once it hits EOL.

And if they're not going to test it, they're probably not gonna support it. And if they're not gonna support it, why release?

 

[nemesismk2]

Microsoft probably does some testing and validation on Windows XP for MSE updates as well as definitions. I'm not sure they'd be willing to do any of that work once it hits EOL.

And if they're not going to test it, they're probably not gonna support it. And if they're not gonna support it, why release?

I hope Microsoft change their mind about Windows XP and just give some MSE updates.

 

[escrow4]

I hope Microsoft change their mind about Windows XP and just give some MSE updates.

Simple. You run a company. You support 4 different products. One is well over a decade old and is just a money sink. What would you do? XP should easily be killed off along with Vista and Office 2003/2007. Microsoft should just focus on 7/8 and Office 2010/2013. Those long decade long support cycles are increasingly archaic. Should be slashed to 5 period.

 

[nemesismk2]

Simple. You run a company. You support 4 different products. One is well over a decade old and is just a money sink. What would you do? XP should easily be killed off along with Vista and Office 2003/2007. Microsoft should just focus on 7/8 and Office 2010/2013. Those long decade long support cycles are increasingly archaic. Should be slashed to 5 period.

I have no plans to keep running windows xp after april 2014 because after research i am sure ubuntu will fill all of my computing needs in the future.