This topic has been discussed before, but it’s worth mentioning again here. The most effective way to protect systems in the current environment, where drive-by download attacks are so popular with attackers, is to keep all software installed on them up-to-date with security updates. But on April 8 2014, support will end for Windows XP. This means Windows XP users will no longer receive security updates, non-security hotfixes or free/paid assisted support options and online technical content updates. This venerable platform, built last century, will not be able to keep pace with attackers, and more Windows XP-based systems will get compromised. The best way to stay ahead of attackers in 2014 and beyond is to migrate from Windows XP to a modern operating system that can provide increased and ongoing protections like Windows 7 or Windows 8, before April 2014.
For some reason Microsoft forgot to Mention Suse Redhat Ubuntu Manjaro Mint Mageia. They are all providing "ongoing protections" and do not have a history of Virus infections.
If the 30 % that use the XP OS do clearly flag that they will convert to Linux..Microsoft will provide continued support for XP for several more years.
They are walking on a tight rope here were they are describing XP as a security risk - in order to increase the Windows 8 sales.
Since Windows 8 is really unpopular and rather unusable in a business setting - Windows 7 might be the alternative for the many XP users.
But Linux is now the biggest OS in the world and still growing - so the attempts to bind and lock down the customer to Windows 8 might backfire.
It might help Windows 8 if MS would not reduce the hardware to only run Window 8 (You cannot run Win 7 or Linux on Win 8 hardware) - keeping options open is alway a good business strategy.
More here
on their forehead because it represents "change" - which is horrible.
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