Why Are They Still Carrying Out Updates When They Announce That Xp No Longer Receives Support?

[anotheoldgit]

I own a desktop computer who's operating system is Windows XP, which they say no longer received support due to it being out of date, yet yesterday when I came to closing it down I got a message that it was carrying out an update and not to switch off the computer because it would switch off after the update was complete, this took approx. 15 minutes.

[Dizmo]

As of April 8, 2014 they no longer added new updates or offered support. I've seen this on a few PC's I've been repairing lately and the updates that the machine is so-called updating are not updates.

[Hopkirk]

Usually it is the monthly 'malicious software removal tool' (whatever that is).

Set your computer not to auto update, or to ask you before updating.

[VHG]

Millions of people round the world are still using XP, including many businesses.

Microsoft were hardly going to leave them high and dry by not providing fixes, particularly if it was an important security fix.

Also note that while "Windows" may seem like one product it is in fact made up of dozens and dozens of smaller programs all working with each other and "talking" to each other.

It may be that this latest XP fix was to one of those smaller programs or a fix to an important part of the internals of the product.

When it was announced fixes were going to stop for XP many hackers probably felt that XP was a good target for viruses and malware so have tried to target XP over newer versions of Windows like Windows 7 or 8.

So Microsoft probably felt it was important to issue important security fixes to XP.

Of course it could also have been that Microsoft saying they were not going to support XP any more was a bit of "scare mongering" on Microsoft's part to get people to buy new computers or newer versions of windows.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect it wouldn't be in their interest to have loads of infected PC's around trying to do the nasty with their latest ones. Especially as this seems to be a very long standing bug.

[HansUrbancka]

Internet Explorer,Microsoft Security Essentials and other Microsoft products which you still have in your Computer/Laptop are still receiving Up-dates even if Windows XP is unsupported. Consequently, XP is still a worthwhile operating system which continues to be employed by approx. 30% of Window's users throughout the world and is safe to use if you have a suitable Virus Protection programme.

Hans.