Microsoft Windows XP: Goodbye

Microsoft reminds users that after April 8, 2014, Windows XP will no longer provide technical help, including helping to protect the computer's automatic updates. Microsoft will also stop providing Windows XP with Microsoft Security Essentials download service after this date. According to experts, unsupported versions of Windows will no longer be able to receive software updates. These include security updates that help the computer protect against harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that may steal personal information.

According to statistics, Microsoft's Windows XP operating system was officially released in 2001, and it has been more than 12 years. Many users think that XP is a classic operating system. As an operating system that accompanies people for as long as 12 years, although Microsoft has issued an appeal for upgrading the system to users in advance, many users still stick to that familiar boot interface.

Microsoft said: "In the past 12 years, Microsoft has been providing support services for Windows XP. But now for us and our hardware and software vendors, it is time to turn our resources to support more recent technologies so that We can continue to provide users with an outstanding new experience."

Loss of function causes XP to be out of touch with the times

The motivation behind Microsoft's move is closely related to the development of the Internet. In the era of mobile Internet, people's access to the Internet through mobile devices has exceeded the time of using desktop systems. Nowadays, a large number of users' activities and demands are obtained through mobile applications. At the same time, because of the characteristics of the platform, users still cannot leave the desktop system in many areas, such as deep application and office. This means the birth of new requirements - the bridging of traditional PC platforms and mobile platforms. At this point, Windows XP and the mobile platform are completely broken.

Experts said: "In the era of the birth of Windows XP system, the current demand is unpredictable, which caused the lack of functionality. Cloud function and Windows XP can be said to be completely irrelevant, IE8 browser is also lacking in cloud synchronization The user's daily habits have come to an abrupt end after encountering Windows XP. It can be said that this is a complete regression. Relatively speaking, the Windows 8 system in the eyes of professionals is very different. According to reports, the Windows 8 system was created entirely in the new era, and it is well compatible with the current application situation and people's daily habits. In the Windows 8 system built-in dynamic services and applications, OneDrive enables data sharing between multiple platforms, calendar, e-mail and other functions can also be connected with iOS, Android mobile platforms, this is a cloud era operating system .

In addition, another reason why Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP is that the system has already had obvious problems with compatibility. In the past two years, users may have discovered that many newly-listed hardware products and peripherals have begun to abandon support for the XP system, and at the very least they have to start online support from Vista. Therefore, they are completely unusable on XP. Or some functions of new products cannot be operated in the XP environment. Only the most basic basic functions can be used, and those functions that cannot be used are often the highlights of new products launched for new demands. As the development of software and hardware is always continuing, if the old system can't continue to provide support in terms of functionality, then from another point of view, it is in the “dragging back”, so it is natural for manufacturers to selectively avoid the problems of Windows XP. Decision-making.

The rising cost of use is also an important reason for Microsoft to stop Windows XP services. According to statistics, the annual maintenance duration of a single Windows XP PC is more than five times that of Windows 8 PC, which means that switching to Windows 8 will greatly reduce the size of the IT maintenance team. In addition to the initial purchase cost, the annual direct cost of using a PC with an old Windows XP operating system is almost twice that of Windows 8 PCs, which is very close to the price of purchasing an operating system. Employees of companies and organizations using Windows XP will spend longer worthless time, with direct loss times nearly 10 times more than Windows 8. As time goes on, the cost of continuing to stay on Windows XP is staggering. By the expenditure incurred by a single XP machine in the third year, a brand new mainstream desktop PC can be purchased. It can be seen that the cost of continuing to use Windows XP is not as low as everyone thinks, but it is far higher than the migration to the new system platform.

Security companies compete to recruit XP

Windows XP today stopped the official security update, and major security companies claimed to be able to protect Windows XP. Recently, Rising has launched a permanent free vulnerability protection program and XP shield tool. All users can get professional security protection at the first time. According to reports, the Windows XP vulnerability protection program launched by Rising includes vulnerability scanning, vulnerability immunization, hot patch repair, virus protection, and network security. Rising XP system protection project manager said that the technical threshold for exploiting and fixing patches for operating systems is high, and it also requires manufacturers to have very strong testing capabilities. Different users have different use environments and business environments, so the compatibility and stability of patch protection solutions will become a top priority.

In addition, Tencent, with Tencent computer stewards as the mainstay, officially launched the Zhagai Plan, which focuses on reconstructing a systematic security system and protecting the basic security of XP Internet users. Tencent's vice president Ding Hao revealed that the first step in the Zhagai plan is the transition period after Microsoft stopped the security update of Windows XP on April 8. Tencent Computer Butler Security Team will cooperate with Microsoft's official response system. "Upgrade plan" and provide convenient system upgrade channels and security services for domestic users, helping users with system upgrade requirements to successfully complete system upgrades. In the second step of the “Barging Fence Project”, Tencent Computer Stewards will join domestic mainstream Internet and security vendors such as Kingsoft, Sogou, Kyuhyun, Oyun, and KEEN to launch a “joint defense” for users who continue to use the XP system during the transitional period. "Programs", including XP system vulnerability response specifications and active defense mechanisms. According to Fushan, CEO of Kingsoft Networks, one of the most important tasks of the “Barred Fence Project” is to resolutely resist the bad behavior of any security company that uses the XP loophole to maliciously threaten users and participate in the “Flying Fence Project”. The most basic corporate responsibility and corporate responsibility guidelines are implemented and controlled together.

In addition to providing protection, assisting users to upgrade has also become a business direction for security companies. According to reports, 360 will launch a Windows 8 upgrade plan with Microsoft from 0:00 on April 8. Microsoft’s official mall will launch a three-day Windows 2000 online distribution software version of 299 yuan discount promotion activities for Windows XP users, and as a Microsoft partner, 360 will use its own advantages channel to distribute Windows 8 online distribution to domestic Windows XP users. Software version of the discount code, the user can use this code to upgrade to Windows 8 with 299 yuan premium price, after which you can also free upgrade to Windows 8.1.

According to Zhang Yi, CEO of Aimeo Consulting, in addition to Microsoft itself, the revocation of Windows XP gives security companies that currently offer various solutions for the retirement of XP, which brings a good opportunity to compete for users and increase brand influence. Security vendors protect against XP. It also became a new profit-seeking point, and the new information security market is expected to be quite large. The relevant research results show that the transition period for the retirement of Windows XP may take another 1-5 years, and the new information security market is expected to reach 5 billion to 6 billion yuan.