When the door’s been closed on upgrades and security patches, Windows XP presents a progressively greater risk to your system. Fortunately, there’s a lot that you, the XP user, can do to protect\u00a0Windows<\/strong> against the dangers associated with a\u00a0lack of support, namely viruses and attacks.<\/p>\n Percentage of infected computers: XP is more vulnerable (Source: Microsoft<\/a>) <\/em><\/p>\n If you want to keep using Windows XP, you need to be willing to fix some things and fill some holes<\/strong>. In return, you’ll see that it’s not as hard as you may think to continue using\u00a0your favorite operating system.<\/p>\n Before doing anything, you should look at which version of Windows XP you’re running<\/strong>. The quickest way to do this is to go to Start> Run<\/em> and type winver<\/em>. Press the Enter<\/em> key, and you’ll see a box with the version of Windows XP, just after Version 5.1.<\/em><\/p>\n This XP\u00a0doesn’t need the Service Pack: it has SP3 properly installed<\/em><\/p>\n The latest version is Service Pack 3<\/a>, which includes the last major package of updates<\/strong> that Microsoft released for XP. If something\u00a0different appears, like\u00a0Service Pack 1<\/a> or Service Pack 2<\/a>, you need to update your system to avoid some of the worst viruses.<\/p>\n Need a reason to upgrade? XP SP2 is infected more than XP SP3 (Source: Computerworld<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n Although Microsoft will no longer release new updates for XP, you can still download the old ones <\/strong>via Windows Update. Install all available updates\u00a0through the control panel updates,\u00a0including\u00a0Service Packs 1, 2 and 3.<\/p>\n You can still download the old XP updates from the Microsoft website<\/em><\/p>\n Another way to install all updates<\/strong> for Windows XP is via WSUS<\/a>,\u00a0a tool that can create an update package which can be used offline. Version\u00a08.9<\/strong> is the latest that’s compatible with XP; simply select\u00a0your operating system, choose the language and click Start<\/em>.<\/p>\n Version 8.9 from\u00a0WSUS downloads and packages the XP updates <\/em><\/p>\n In my opinion, WSUS is the safer option<\/strong>, because it\u00a0lets\u00a0you keep your XP offline so that there’s no possibility of intrusions\u00a0while you’re upgrading. I also recommend that you check the .NET Framework\u00a0box, an essential software to\u00a0ensure\u00a0that\u00a0programs run\u00a0properly.<\/p>\n Windows XP is distributed with Internet Explorer 6, a browser that’s now unsafe and incompatible with most current web pages. To find out which\u00a0version of IE you’re using, go to the\u00a0Help> About<\/em> menu in the browser. If you see what’s below, you’ve got the\u00a0dreaded Internet Explorer 6.<\/p>\n The unmistakable Internet Explorer 6 in all its splendor <\/em><\/p>\n If you’re using IE 6.0, update\u00a0immediately to\u00a0Internet Explorer 8, the latest version that’s\u00a0available<\/a> for XP, which is far more secure and supports most websites (you can download it here<\/a>). Unfortunately, there’s no IE9 for XP, and we don’t know of any way\u00a0to run it on Windows XP.<\/p>\n IE8 is the latest version of Internet Explorer for Windows XP\u2013 there is no IE9 for XP.<\/em><\/p>\n At the same time, <\/strong>you can download an alternative browser.<\/strong> There are lots to choose from, but\u00a0Chrome<\/a>, Firefox<\/a> and Opera<\/a> are the three main alternatives. They are fast and efficient, are good at avoiding malware, and provide a much smoother and enjoyable browsing experience.<\/p>\n One way to reduce vulnerabilities and lighten the load on Windows is to remove programs that you no longer use or\u00a0that could pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of your computer<\/strong>. To remove applications quickly, use CCleaner<\/a> or Revo Uninstaller<\/a>.<\/p>\n Revo Uninstaller is a very\u00a0powerful uninstaller that’s compatible with Windows XP <\/em><\/p>\n You can also disable startup processes and services you don’t\u00a0use: the lower the number of programs that load up\u00a0and stay in memory, the fewer the\u00a0weak points in\u00a0the operating system. Just remember that you should know everything you’re running. <\/strong><\/p>\n Besides keeping the system updated, you must ensure that your applications are up to date<\/strong>. A program with an old version may have defects and security\u00a0problems, becoming a gateway for viruses.<\/p>\n There are utilities that detect and download new versions of your apps.\u00a0One of the star features of Softonic for Windows<\/a> is precisely that: updating\u00a0programs that are obsolete<\/strong>. You can get this with a quick scan of your system and a comparison with the Softonic database.<\/p>\n Softonic for Windows detects\u00a0earlier versions and helps you update – even in XP<\/em><\/p>\n Softonic for Windows works as an application manager\u00a0so that in addition to notifying\u00a0and helping you update your software, it lets you\u00a0install new programs which are compatible<\/strong> with Windows XP ( which\u00a0I’m sure will keep\u00a0appearing for at\u00a0least the next five years).<\/p>\n Microsoft Security Essentials, the official Microsoft antivirus, will stop\u00a0receiving new updates for XP on July 14, 2015. From that moment on, the last pillar\u00a0of Microsoft\u00a0security will fall apart.<\/p>\n Still, there’s no need to worry: most antiviruses will be compatible with Windows XP<\/strong> for years. In our big antivirus comparison of 2014<\/a>,\u00a0we analyzed 15 free and paid antiviruses. The best free antivirus<\/strong> proved to be AVG<\/a>, Avira<\/a> and\u00a0QIHOO 360<\/a>.<\/p>\n Antivirus comparison\u00a0notes from late 2013, all of which are compatible with XP <\/em><\/p>\n You need to choose an antivirus that’s effective, but also lightweight<\/strong>. Another good option if you’re short on\u00a0memory resources is to download a portable antivirus<\/a>, which doesn’t require installation and only runs when you want to disinfect your PC. I took a classic antivirus off a\u00a0friend’s\u00a0old laptop with XP and left her with Avira\u00a0PC Cleaner<\/a> on the desktop.<\/p>\n To use Windows XP with confidence, you not only have to know what’s running when you start the PC, but also monitor which\u00a0programs send or receive data<\/strong> from the network. Why? Because some of them may violate your privacy, or even worse,\u00a0download viruses.<\/p>\n The excellent free firewall Comodo Firewall is compatible with Windows XP<\/em><\/p>\n The two firewalls I usually recommend<\/strong> are the old but reliable Sygate Personal Firewall<\/a>, which works great on XP, and Comodo Firewall<\/a>, which is\u00a0newer than Sygate and has\u00a0a more elegant and intuitive design. Both are equally effective.<\/p>\n If you’re a fan of getting mail the old fashioned way, then you need to think about leaving\u00a0Outlook Express (OE) and Live Mail as soon as possible. These are obsolete apps where\u00a0countless virus attachments find their way in, regardless of whether you have an antivirus or not.<\/p>\n Among the e-mail clients available<\/a> for Windows XP, Mozilla Thunderbird<\/a> is an acceptable\u00a0desktop alternative, but the project has seen little activity lately. It’s best if you use webmail like Gmail<\/a> or Outlook.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the Outlook.com\u00a0options, you can add\u00a0POP or IMAP\u00a0accounts <\/em><\/p>\n Both options let\u00a0you\u00a0download POP3 mail to your inbox<\/strong> so that you can continue to receive and send messages from your old email accounts, with the added benefit of junk mail filters\u00a0that work\u00a0much better than any Windows program.<\/p>\n If you’ve chosen to continue using Windows XP, you’ve\u00a0chosen a more risky and exciting computing life. If you have appreciation for your data, you should start doing backups regularly <\/strong>so that if something goes wrong – for example, the Cryptolocker<\/a> virus sneaks into your computer – you\u00a0can recover your files.<\/p>\n The best solution? Create your own “recipe backups”<\/a> using free programs according to your needs, such as Dropbox<\/a> (documents), Intel Anti-theft<\/a> (passwords), Cobian Backup<\/a>,\u00a0and Comodo Time Machine<\/a>. Another great option for a full backup? Macrium Reflect<\/a>.\u00a0In any case, merging\u00a0several solutions offers maximum safety and flexibility.<\/p>\n As you can see, staying with XP without suffering from viruses is <\/em>possible, but operating systems and applications evolve too. There will come a day<\/strong> when you can no longer enjoy your favorite programs and games on XP, and although that day might be far away, you need to come to terms with the idea as soon as you can.<\/p>\n The number of Windows XP users\u00a0is stable (Source: Computerworld<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n If you have no choice but to stick with XP to run some programs, don’t forget that there’s an option to install XP on a virtual machine<\/strong>, a PC that runs on a window inside your PC. You can do it through VirtualBox<\/a> or VMPlayer<\/a>,\u00a0both of which are free and fully compatible with XP.<\/p>\n Follow me on Twitter: @remoquete<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Staying with Windows XP is possible, but it can be risky if you don’t take precautions. If you decide you want to stick with XP, follow these tips to protect yourself\u00a0against viruses and other threats. No More Updates As of now, there won’t be any more updates to\u00a0Windows XP. It’s the “XPocalypse“,\u00a0the end of the … Continue reading “How to keep using XP after support ends”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2044,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[2441],"tags":[],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-63953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-how-to"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2044"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63953"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":330995,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63953\/revisions\/330995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63953"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=63953"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=63953"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=63953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Percentage](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/infect.jpg\" "\\"Percentage")
<\/p>\nCheck if you have the latest big update from XP<\/h3>\n
![\"This](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/xpwinver.gif\" "\\"This")
<\/p>\n![\"SP](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/sp2-sp3.jpg\" "\\"SP")
<\/p>\nInstall the latest available updates<\/h3>\n
![\"Download](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/xpupdate.jpg\" "\\"Download")
<\/p>\n![\"WSUS](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/wsus-screen.jpg\" "\\"WSUS")
<\/p>\nUpdate Internet Explorer and add an alternative browser<\/h3>\n
![\"Internet](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/ie6.jpg\" "\\"Internet")
<\/p>\n![\"IE](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2010\/06\/comple.png\" "\\"IE")
<\/p>\nUninstall unnecessary and obsolete programs<\/h3>\n
![\"Revo](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/revo.jpg\" "\\"Revo")
<\/p>\nInstall a program updater<\/h3>\n
![\"Softonic](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/sfw.jpg\" "\\"Softonic")
<\/p>\nInstall an antivirus that’s compatible with Windows XP<\/h3>\n
![\"Softonic's](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/12\/1-Total-Chart1.jpg\" "\\"Softonic's")
<\/p>\nInstall a firewall that’s easy to use<\/h3>\n
![\"Comodo](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/comodofire.jpg\" "\\"Comodo")
<\/p>\nStop using Outlook Express \/ Live Mail<\/h3>\n
![\"Outlook.com](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/outlookpop.jpg\" "\\"Outlook.com")
<\/p>\nCreate your own back up plan<\/h3>\n
![\"Make](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/comodotm.jpg\" "\\"Make")
<\/p>\nDon’t discredit updating or\u00a0using\u00a0a virtual machine<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/articles-images.sftcdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/03\/xpshare.jpg\" "\\"The")
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