Microsoft really wants to encourage users to make the shift to a newer operating system, mainly Windows 8.1. To do this Microsoft is pushing the security side of things, particularly as business users are the most prominent users of Windows XP who are essentially keeping the operating system alive and well. On its TechNet blog Microsoft published figures from its own internal data about the infection and encounter rates of all their operating system. The figures show that Windows XP is about six times more likely to become infected by malware than Windows 8.
“Windows XP was built more than 12 years ago and was architected to include security technologies that were innovative at the time. For example, Windows XP SP2 was released in 2004 and introduced Data Execution Prevention. However, the threat landscape has changed quite a bit since then and technologies that were built a decade ago, like DEP, are now commonly bypassed.” Stated Microsoft.
Of course Windows XP users will find that they can reduce their infection by simply using some third party anti-virus and anti-malware protections, but these will not be able to account for vulnerabilities within the operating system itself. If you value security as a high priority then Microsoft believes the case is convincing enough for you to make the move to Windows 8.
Images courtesy of Microsoft
I’ll stick to Windows 7 thanks.
I’ll stick to Windows 3.01 thanks. 🙂
They would get a higher adoption rate if they just kept the price around $40 – $50. They had the big special for the launch but I talked to hundreds of people who didn’t even know about it. I have a Windows 8 system that I use just for a test system. I have to work on other people’s computers and eventually the Windows 8 systems will show up in my shop. My normal systems are Win 7,XP and Linux. The only thing that would make a user like me even consider the junk that is Win 8 is DirectX 11.2. but I know somone will figure out how to get to work on 7 so I’m not planning any ‘downgrade’ soon.
But Windoze 8 is shiiiiiiiit.
Whose smart-arse idea was it to make a touch-screen based OS, fully knowing that the vast, vast majority of people can’t afford touchscreens or posh tabletop computers, and will be using a keyboard and mouse instead?
I still have Windows XP on a 13 year old Dell.