Are You Still Using Windows XP?

Considering the security risks associated with using Windows XP, do you still use it? If so, please comment as to what security measures you have implemented.

I'm still using WinXP because of hardware upgrade limitations and lack of driver support with my legacy PC. My security measures are noted in my signature. Hopefully they will protect me in the absence of Microsoft security patches.

 

Yes, on a shared family PC (my personal laptop is running Win7). The family PC is a 10 year old Dell Dimension desktop that still runs great on WinXP and would not adequately support subsequent versions of Windows. The Dell's security measures are 360TS, Privatefirewall, and Shadow Defender (full-time). This desktop is used extensively every day and so far there has not been a security breach.

 

Yes still, although it is still on the network it has been relegated to a backup role of sorts. My signature depicts the measures taken secure it as best I could. Since the days leading up to XP's EOS when the web was rife with prognostications of doom for all those foolish enough not to upgrade the OS, and or, platform, I have yet to hear, or see, the massive breaches and general mayhem to XP users so vigorously prophesied.

 

No, I moved on to Windows 7 and later to Windows 8. Still I have Windows XP installed in Virtualbox for testing purposes.

 

Like Cruise I use a W7 laptop, but there are 2 other PCs in our home running XP SP3 (x86). Those 2 legacy PCs are still running very well with XP. They are protected with Avira AV, ZA Firewall and SD (always on) which imho is adequate protection.

 

Triple boot xp vista and 7 boot mainly use xp.

No problems since the xpocalypse never happened as predicted by those who stood to make money from upgrades.
....and besides for vista and 7 updates i look at woodys blog and usually end up skipping updates due to the problems listed
on that blog.
Security is in my desktop signature

 

Yes.
First Trick Sebijk + good and light security setup.

 

My desktop is an XP and still use it everyday. I use it as much as my W7 laptop. I use the W7 for work and the XP for fun. I handle security the same way in both computers. How I do it is simple and works for me.

Basically, most programs and files that run in my computers, run sandboxed at all times. There are rare exceptions but that's the backbone that keeps my XP safe. If a file is going to run in my computer, that file us going to run sandboxed until it gets deleted. For me, thats a rule. I also avoid installing programs, addons, plugins that I don't use in a regular basis. If I want to test something, I do it under Shadow defender. Or install it sandboxed. And for browsing, Firefox with NoScript under SBIE is it for my XP.

Bo

 

My two Win XP computers crapped out from being old. Running win7 x 64 on two new computers now.

 

I voted "Yes, because of another reason"...because...because XP is still enough good and efficient for work which my wife and me can do

 

XP is as far as I'll go with Windows. I don't like or trust the newer versions. IMO, the security issues are exaggerated and are more than offset by the privacy issues of the newer versions. XP (and 98SE) do everything I need and don't require 4+GB of RAM and multiple processors to get it done.

 

Yes, because there would be additional expenses to upgrade a number of programs I have that will not run on a later version of Windows.

Regarding your comment about "the security risks associated with using Windows XP":

Although I no longer do any formal testing, I would be happy to look at a URL you can provide which is hosting a WinXP exploit, to see how it is triggered.

regards,

-rich

 

No, because the one machine I had it on was already stretching it having XP installed on it. System was way too old, so I just put Debian on with LXDE and just wish I did that sooner.

Whatever works for people, each their own. Personally I don't see much reason to use XP anymore.

 

I've stockpiled parts and software so that I won't be forced away from XP. I run virtualized and stay away from most of the things that have a high known probability of causing trouble.
I bought Vista, have tried Windows 7, and refuse to even consider 8/8.1/10 due to privacy issues already referenced in this thread and the restrictions the newer operating systems place on the user.
So I am happy to stay where I am. No need for those "advanced" and "enhanced" features and capabilities.

 

Same here. I keep finding more and more hardware for little or nothing. Considering how long hardware seems to last for me, I should be set for the next 25 years or so.

 

I barely trust Windows at all, let alone anything past XP, so yes I still use XP Pro. From what I've learned, my understanding is it's more secure. My system is very old and struggling some for videos, (got it way back in 2003) but it's still reasonably snappy for general stuff. It gets used pretty much everyday. When my system dies I don't know what I'll do. If I had a choice, I'd keep XP. I really like it and I don't need all the silly useless bloated eye candy.

Testing is beyond me but I share Rmus' interest in any known exploit for XP.

 

I have it, but rarely use it just because of how much ram it supports.

 

My seagate HDDs just keep on keeping on. I have 1 in PC and 2 in Mac. Theyv'e all been thrashed. Way back I was told not to expect a HDD to last more than 3-5years tops. Well theyre all still OK. Sadly if things keep going the way they are, I won't even get to see if they'll make the 25year mark.

 

Yes. . . I use XP on my desktop with many proprietary apps and everything is still running just fine. I am using Win 7 Pro on a laptop, but like working with XP just as well.

 

I actually feel safer and more secure with XP. At least on my setup anyways. I haven't torn into 8 and 10 much, so I don't know what's lurking in there.

I don't like all the colorful social crap ~ Snipped as per TOS ~ that seems to be on subsequent Windows.

 

On Mac now.

 

I find using XP a real pain, to me technology is only appealing when it is state of the art. I have Win8 and Vista on my two main notebooks, and XP on three old machines.

Why do I still use XP? First reason is RAM, XP works well with 1 GB of RAM, secondly upgrading would be a waste of money on very old machines (10, 8, 7 years), and last but hardly least I use the XP machines for specific tasks, a netbook as an emergency backup, a notebook on the treadmill (better than a TV set), and a machine for my wife who occasionally goes online.

Security is provided by Sandboxie and Shadow Defender, no AV for more than 2 years and no infections.

 

I like to use XP in VMs as it is the easiest to work with and consumes much less as far as resources go. I do a lot of software testing and it's generally just faster and easier to do inside an XP machine. I wouldn't run it as a real machine these days but when you can 'revert' at any time I don't find the potential security issues to be very relevant. I also have Win7 and Win8 machines for testing but I only bother in those if I like the program enough to keep on testing. Haven't jumped on board the Win10 train yet though I've installed it a few times in a VM, just not intending to keep one up till it goes official.

I loved XP, but also I grew to love Windows 7 as my main OS and can't say I want to go back for every day use. I've *always* modified the OS with programs like Nlite and now that nuhi has created NTLite, I have my smallest version of Windows 7 yet and it is truly wonderful! It took quite a bit of time to modify all the system files (generally dlls) to my liking (eg years) but I've finally figured it all out and plan to stay with Win 7 for some time.

XP was (is) a great OS and it's the pinnacle of an era. It's certainly not worth purchasing an upgrade if you're on an old machine but if you build or purchase a new one, Windows 7 is an acceptable replacement IMHO. Windows 8 and what I've tested of Win 10 thus far has me worried I'll be in the same boat as some of the others here feel they are in with XP as time passes.