XP funeral in 2 months, but business is still running it

Okay so Windows XP is due to end in 2 months, and about time, the OS has been around for 12 years, although regarded as the greatest OS from MS its security and stability has become more unstable and less secure over the years, more due to age.

Now it can take anywhere between 18/24 months minimum to fully migrate a system from one OS to another, this is due to issues with applications, the systems them self, and how many terminals there are at once, so why are banks and large businesses still using XP?

Now to my knowledge a large UK banks are still using XP, if you have ever seen a crashed cash point from these banks, you will notice they run XP Professional, so why are they still running it? it will become more and more stressful for security departments to patch the dead OS's security issues and maintain it, there is already rumours that hackers have a ton of exploits ready to fire that MS does not even know exist.

This is an issue, Not just for banks.

Recently I have seen a large shops also have XP pro running on their self service checkouts, Now paying by cash does not pose as much threat as using card, but the problem is also, the machines they have for reading cards are on XP, the banks are on XP, all it takes is a MITM attack and your account along with thousands of others is compromised, which causes a serious issue.

Any ideas why business has not upgraded to W7 or Linux in recent years way before, I expect budget constraints among one, but to be honest these businesses should pay their I.T department every penny they are worth, to keep them self in business, and keeping their systems safe for customers to use.

What do you think the future is of these businesses, or are we heading towards dangerous times in the world of online and cashless payments? Post below!

 

It'll be Target all over again.

I'm not one for more legislation, but part of me thinks some is required to get companies to use a more secure OS. 

Why fix what is working just fine? And if we change os we have to pay huge amount of money for new os and custom made software will no longer work on it. And probably we have to change hardware witch cost money no to mention that our workers have to relearn everything. 

I agree on a more secure os it is needed for all companies not just target :) 

Also welkam yes if it ain't broke don't fix it but it will be broken over and over and customer security is of priority for business dealing with cards such as debits/credits, and most people apps should migrate from xp to 7 easily I understand some are designed for the os specifically but even a comparability layer should work no?

As stated security is a priority in business and should be treated as such or stuff like target could be repeated

Oh i forgot that you are still using magnetic stripe cards and not every program works well with compatibility layer so it might work or not.

Heck they could just switch to Linux. Once it's set up, at least in my experience, Linux is extremely straight-forward to use.

And they'd avoid the cost of having to pay for an OS. They'd still have to pay their IT for installation and everything. Though I have little experience in this area, so that might not be a huge savings.

Been using XP at work until recently. IT guy upgraded our work stations to Win 7 32bit and upgraded from AutoCAD 2009 to 2014. 

Our machines were slow to begin with (Core 2 duo, 2GB ddr2 ram, and a VERY dated Quadro FX-570 with a wopping 256MB ddr2). Now I have to be even more careful not to have too many programs  or drawings open at once or it just chugs. We're due for a hardware upgrade next year.. can't wait!

I have no issues with XP. The only thing is as other OS's take it's place and programs are updated for the newer OS's, less and less remains compatible, forcing you to update.

I like windows 8.1 though. Don't have any issues with it. Don't know why so many don't like it. 

I think it's mostly the ui formerly known as metro, and also perhaps the whole microsoft account thing.

Personally, I love it, but I think that's just because i'm using StartIsBack.

I use chip and pin :) but just because I use a pin does not mean it cant be stolen, it wouldnt take a lot of effort to install a reader or backdoor into a damaged XP system.

I dont have issues with XP also, I liked it back in the day, but times change and so does security, I loved its sys req was amazing to test with 8GB RAM for giggles hehe.

I dont like 8.1 due to issues I have had in the past, and I use linux now, although I upgraded my girlfriends laptop to 8.1 last week, its a bit chuggy compared to 8 but it does fine for her needs :)

I like to use XP on one of my old Dell Latitudes for work purposes, however I NEVER connect it to internet. Mainly used to test home and some small business networks that I work with on the side. I'm just really familiar with it (been using it since I was 5, first OS I ever touched) however I have switched all of my serious machines to Linux, except one of the hard drives on my main rig that I have Win7 on for strictly gaming. Eventually gonna learn how to do hardware emulation or whatever and run everything in Linux (idk if my hardware is compatible?). 

XP will still work offline, I would use it for old games, Hell im thinking of a 98VM for stuff like grim fandango, but it wont have any network adapters at all, so no internet at all.

You can use KVM/Virt manager for VMs, but if you have an unlocked CPU from intel so K series forget it, it wont work well due to no virtualisation stuff in the bios, then check if you mobo supports it, you need IOMMU support, Ask in the linux area, post your hardware and someone will tell you the commands to check your self or will tell you directly if it is supported.

FX-6100 and Sabertooth 990FX R2.0, I should be good but I'll check.

Mobo may not work well, ASUS dont like to allow IOMMU support, Check for AMD-Vi support in your BIOS

 

Turns out I have IOMMU support and SVM (don't know if I need that or not, said something about visualization in the CPU) :D 

Actually I've noticed quite a few companies jumping from XP to 7 within the last six months. I expect there to be a scramble to upgrade workstations before the deadline.

I think most people can't really grasp the difference between the distros and security problems unless they are working with Differnt versions of windows already. Also kind of against the average Company switching to linux at this point in time because they are unlikely to have someone qualified to administrate the system and it's a lot easier to make linux vunerable than windows if you don't know what you are doing. I.E. I can toss a slew of commands at any of my linux installs and screw them up good instantly, Windows on the other hand is going to BOOP at me a lot of times and make me click a lot before it lets me screw it over on average. But I screw up linux and fix it for fun, I don't screw up my windows install as it usually never fun to fix windows IMO.

I do agree, Linux techies are more expensive than windows techies, but to be fair they are worth their time, With the world seeming to be moving to linux now, they are needed, with chrome OS also, that will also take over, I have experienced less issues with linux though, even when I actually try to break it it still works better than windows does.

Windows is only good for a few things now, Gaming (Which will soon be replaced) Autocad/Adobe (Which has already been replaced) and letting the NSA steal your information, as well as hackers 

Well XP was a great os but for everything there will be an end.

But i still don´t get why microsoft, going there new routes making a new OS every 2 years, its rediculous. Let them focus on making a great OS like windows XP was that can last for another 10 years, bringing out sever packs again. look what microsoft brought after XP, a ton of crap ware. like the whole metro crap..

To bad they never brought Longhorn !

All about money, their old business model does not stand up to linux and apple, so they follow them also its every year a update is launched, and I doubt the new CEO will do anything even with bill supporting him...

I don't think windows will be around in 10 years they are not cloud ready and the os can't adapt easily, hence the reason bill left 1st time cloud computing is his nighmare