Microsoft ended support for its Windows XP operating system on April 8, 2014.

The impact of this “end of life” decision could have been disastrous for anyone operating on the XP platform.

Eric Aguado, Chief Operating Officer of ThrottleNet, appeared on TNtv to address this issue and provide some action steps XP users can take to avoid the onset of a system failure or computer virus infection.

Aguado said that while Microsoft has released plans to continue to support XP with its Security Essentials program it will no longer provide patches for any “holes” found in the operating system. This  could leave an XP user extremely vulnerable to future hacks and other issues, even if they are running an additional antivirus program from McAfee or Symantec.

Aguado recommends XP users purchase a new computer with the most current Windows program. He says, at the very least, they should upgrade their operating system to Windows 7 or Windows 8. This will avoid any system vulnerabilities that may occur after April 8.

For those who do not know which system their computer is currently utilizing, Aguado says there are few easy steps a user can take to find that information.

He recommends users visit their starting page then type “winver” into the search box. Then, by clicking “OK”, their operating system details will appear on their screen. Aguado says anyone needing help with this task can also call the ThrottleNet Help Desk for assistance.
 

April 8 2014 marked the end of system support for Windows XP. Were you prepared?

Watch the full episode from TNTv below!