27th August, 2013
Microsoft has announced that it would shut down support for its 11-year old Windows XP operating system widely used in personal computers and laptops over security concerns.
Ahead of the planned shut down, Microsoft Acting Country Manager for Nigeria, Mrs Awawu Olumide-Sojirin told journalists in Lagos that the company will stop sending updates and assisted support to Windows XP by April, 2014.
She said the measure was taken to protect users of the application from fraudsters and hackers who have found ways to make window-XP vulnerable.
Awawu noted that Microsoft have since launched window 8, to replace window -XP and urged users to switch to the latest window to avoid security issues.
She said: “Microsoft primary focus is to ensure users are protected and Windows 8 is thus capable of providing better security against malware. It contains a Defender; a full-featured anti-virus solution included in every edition of the operating system.
“That is why we are encouraging companies to upgrade to Windows 8. The reasons are obvious: security till today and in future remains a high priority investment area and with it we have enabled a broad range of new capabilities that address the top security needs and threats that they are facing today”.
Also speaking about the development, Mr. Oluyomi Alarape, datacenter solutions Specialist, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa,said Microsoft is ending support for XP because “technology has dramatically changed.”
He noted that the expiration of support for Windows XP is expedient due to the fact that there has been evolution in technology, maintaining that business and personal technology has dramatically changed over the last decade.
“While XP was one of the most popular operating systems in Microsoft’s history, it was not designed to handle the challenges of today, such as the increased exposure to cyber-attacks and demands for more data privacy, unlike our newer operating systems such as Windows 7 and 8,” he said.
He explained that, apparently, the security risk is the most concerning for customers as there are more sophisticated forms of attack which can impact safety of personal information and the hidden costs associated with support and business continuity.
“An 11-year-old operating system can no longer address today’s business and technology needs nor security threats,” he said.
He hinted that the sharp increase of “hacktivism” and pirated software in 2012 formed part of reasons consumers should upgrade from XP to the latest operating systems such as Windows 7 or 8.
—Henry Ojelu