This may be an option for some firms that have custom software that won’t run properly on Windows 7 or above. Windows XP can run in a virtual environment on a Windows 7 PC, enabling the client to get the added benefit of using a more modern operating system. If the isolated PC is still connected to systems internally, it can be used as a stepping stone to get to more sensitive areas of a corporate network. The platform can be targeted by an attacker in a multistaged hack. Microsoft recently sent a memo to partners urging them to tell clients that segmenting off Windows XP systems from the Internet would not completely reduce the risk of attacks. Removing Windows XP From Internet Still Risky “Since a security update will never become available for Windows XP to address these vulnerabilities, Windows XP essentially will have a “zero day” vulnerability forever,” Rains said. New security updates, nonsecurity hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates will come to an end, said Tim Rains, director of product management in Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing group. Officially, don’t count on any new security updates. The only time an exception might be made is if a quickly spreading attack had the potential to cause serious problems, say security experts. Once it ends support on April 8, Microsoft will not be issuing any patches for the operating system, leaving the potential for open vulnerabilities. The tool may be too complicated to deploy and maintain on dozens of PCs, but on fewer systems, it would be manageable, say solution providers. The Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit can be enabled to help prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities from executing on the system. Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkitįor organizations that can’t shed Windows XP due to a business-critical application, a tool is available to make attacking Windows XP significantly difficult for an external hacker. Unfortunately Windows has made for security measure available on newer OS that make the attacks less likelyon those systems and more likely on Windows XP. It can turn on additional security features that aren’t supported natively in Microsoft applications running on Windows XP. Windows XP supports Data Execution Prevention, a feature that attempts to prevent exploits from executing in memory. The Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit still will be supported past the April end-of-life. The anti-malware utility checks Windows XP systems for infections and can help administrators remove malware. Microsoft will continue to support the Malicious Software Removal Tool as part of its extension of MSE through 2015. The programs will help protect against attacks targeting the browser, its components and other applications, but these antiviruses will not detect attacks that target vulnerabilities in the operating system. Windows XP will be supported by multiple antivirus programs such as Avast, Avira, AVG, Bitdefender and Comodo. Enterprise users will get updates for System Center Endpoint Protection, Forefront Client Security and Endpoint Protection, and Windows Intune running on XP, Microsoft said. Microsoft said it would continue to support their antivirus software, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), through July 14, 2015. The good news is that most banks and payment processors monitor their customer base to address problems. If the solution providers do not let the smaller merchants know that Windows XP is going into retirement, then they may unknowingly continue using outdated and poorly maintained equipment. Solution providers that work with embedded systems, such as ATM machines and point-of-sale terminals, should be checking in with longtime clients and upgrading systems.
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