Running Programs in Vista. This can be fixed by a system administrator running this. Still Running Windows XP? Here's What to Do – Tom's Guide. Credit: Microsoft/National Nuclear Security Administration. After April 8, most users of the Windows XP operating system will no longer receive security patches, application updates or any kind of support from Microsoft. Windows XP machines will be more vulnerable to malware than ever before, and users' personal and financial information will be at greater risk of compromise by identity thieves. Closing programs running in the background on your computer can free up system resources for your other. Temporarily disable background programs on Windows from Task Manager.So what should Windows XP users do? Do the dangers of running XP after April 8 warrant upgrading an old PC to a newer version of Windows? Or would it make more sense to simply buy a new computer? MORE: How to Migrate from Windows XP Before Microsoft Pulls the Plug. There is really limited protection that people can put into place to protect themselves, because Microsoft won't be patching the . Unfortunately, many of those holes will exist in XP too, with the result that malicious hackers will have a Microsoft- drawn treasure map to XP exploitation. Roger Kay, principal analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates, a technology- marketing consultancy in Massachusetts, thinks many consumers won't need to worry about the end of support for Windows XP. Most consumers usually buy a new operating system when they buy a new PC, he noted — and the last time new PCs running Windows XP were for sale in retail outlets was at least four or five years ago. Still, something between 2. PCs worldwide were running Windows XP in December 2. Many, perhaps most, of those machines won't be discarded or upgraded by April. Sticking with XP? Here's what to do. People who absolutely must use Windows XP for some reason, such as to run specialized software not available for later versions of Windows, or perhaps because they can't afford a new PC, should take several precautionary steps.— Ditch Internet Explorer. XP users should switch from Internet Explorer to third- party browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, Miller said.
Both browsers will support XP, and continue to receive patches, beyond April. If an XP user doesn't already have a robust anti- virus software product, he or she should install one right away. Free anti- virus software is fine, but paid is better. Most anti- virus software makers will support XP until 2. MORE: Best PC Anti- Virus Software 2. Segregate user accounts. Any home user with an XP machine should restructure user accounts so that only a seldom- used administrator account can install or modify software. Everything else, especially Web and email use, should be done using limited accounts without administrator rights. Limited accounts limit the damage malware can do. Linux applications can open most old Windows files, but you won't be running Windows at all. Upgrade the OS or the machine? If you've decided on upgrading away from Windows XP, should you buy a new PC, or upgrade the operating system on an old one? Kay said it would make more sense to just buy a new PC..
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