Should I still run Windows XP?

If you read the news articles lately, then you've probably seen the reports that support for Windows XP ends this month.  They are also predicting that virus creators and hackers will have a "field day" because so many people are still running Windows XP.  As of now, approximate 1 in 3 computers are running XP.  If you're one of those, is this something you should be concerned with?  My opinion is NO, not really - as long as you know what you're doing.

The way I look at it, my operating system is NOT my first line of defense on the Internet, it's the last.  So even if my operating system is "vulnerable" because it's no longer being supported, I'm still protected.  So what other defenses do I rely on?  First and foremost is the firewall built into my home router.  This firewall protects all the computers and devices inside my network from attack.  Second, avoid Internet Explorer and Outlook like the plague.  I've said it before, but these programs are the most common entry point for problems into your network.  I recommend Firefox and/or Chrome for the browser, and Thunderbird for email.  Third, use a lot of common sense.  Be careful about what you download and run on your computer.  If you suspect the program then don't run it, or at least run it inside a VM.

In addition to this, you could run an anti-virus program (I don't, but most people do).  You could also enable the Windows firewall, most people do but I don't.  My viewpoint is the inside of my network is a safe zone, so I don't need the firewall up.  And since I do a lot of remote PC access from one computer to another I turn off the firewall.  Of course, if I'm using a laptop in a remote "strange" network I always enable the firewall.  Here's one place where XP being out of support could bite you.  If a security flaw is found in the firewall, someone could attack your computer even with the firewall up.  So if you travel a lot with your computer you might want to look into a 3rd-party firewall such as ZoneAlarm.

I would argue Windows XP is the most popular operating system of all time!  And, in my opinion, it runs faster and better than newer versions of Windows.  Every program I want to run works on XP.  So there's no reason for me to upgrade.  Even with the end of life just days away, I have no desire to "upgrade."  And looking at the numbers, clearly I'm not alone.

One last tip, if you like Windows XP but are concerned about the end of life - look into Windows Server 2003.  It's built on the same core as Windows XP so it has the same look, feel, and functionality as XP - but Microsoft will continue to support Server 2003 until July 2015.  I run Server 2003 on most of my machines, so I'm still under support for another year.