
No matter what their reasons are, even though they may run into security risk because of the ended support, there are several ways to mitigate most of risks and to reduce the chances of being attacked. Here are Few tips to help you survive the end-of-life for Windows XP.
1. Back Up Everything, Every time
Not a tip specific to Windows XP but a valuable one nonetheless. It should be emphasize that although the tips here will help you mitigate risk, they will not eliminate them and therefore, having a regular, working backup is crucial in case anything goes wrong.
2. Keep Your Antivirus Updated
XP may not be getting any updates anymore but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be getting antivirus updates. The majority of security vendors will still be providing update to their software running on XP, including Microsoft’s own Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).
3. Choose Your Software And Keep It Updated
Installing third-party software will always introduce a new attack vector into your PC so choose what you install carefully. Remove those that are no longer being used. Also, make sure you keep those programs updated as developers will always add in bug fixes and patches with the latest updates.
4. Always Scan Your USB Drives Before Connecting
Perhaps the most common way to spread malware is via the unassuming USB drive. Computers you find in colleges and cybercafes are common victims of USB-transmitted malware as they are passed around unawares by one user to the next. If you have no idea where that USB drive has been, always scan it before using them with your XP machine.
5. Use A Limited Account
A study done by Avecto states that 92% of severe vulnerabilities reported by Microsoft can be mitigated by removing admin rights from your account. An attacker can only execute an exploit if they can get the access to do so and using a Limited account is the easiest to block them.
6. Use XP In A Virtual Machine
Here’s another reason many users are reluctant to upgrade their Windows XP to a newer OS version – they lose out on the third-party software that they are using on their Windows XP because a newer version is not available on the latest OS; or they have to repurchase a newer version.If this is the case with you, consider running third-party software on a virtual machine. This will put the OS in its own self contained system within your computer. Microsoft provides a free "XP mode" for those who have Window 7 Professional and above. If you don’t have the version required, try VMware Player, which is free for personal use (you will need a copy of XP to install).
By : Hongkiat.com
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