Mark G. McCreary was quoted in The Associated Press article, "End of Windows XP Support Spells Trouble for Some." Full text can be found in the April 7, 2014, issue, but a synopsis is noted below.
In a move some say could put everything from the operations of heavy industry to the identities of ordinary people in danger, Microsoft on Tuesday will end support for Windows XP, as the company turns its focus to maintaining its newer operating systems.
While users will still be able to use the operating system after Tuesday, the company will no longer provide security updates, issue fixes or offer online technical content updates.
According to Mark McCreary, small businesses could be among the most affected by the end of support, because they don't have the same firewalls and in-house IT departments that larger companies are able to afford. And if they don't upgrade and something bad happens, the company could be at risk for lawsuits from customers.
McCreary doesn't expect the widespread malware attacks and disasters others are predicting, at least not initially.
"It's not that you blow it off and wait another seven years, but it's not like everything is going to explode on April 8 either," he says.
McCreary noted that Microsoft plans to continue providing malware-related updates for more than a year, adding that he doubts hackers are saving up their malware attacks for the day the support ends.
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