In a blog post describing this month's regularly-scheduled security patch release—which will be a humongous, Mac OS X-style carpet bomb deluge of updates—Microsoft Senior Security Communications Manager Jerry Bryant also warned that this year will see three out-of-date Windows versions slip into retirement. And as these milestones pass, users will want to upgrade to newer Windows versions to ensure they continue receiving security updates.
"Last month I started including important information about Windows versions that are reaching the end of their product lifecycle," Bryant wrote. "Customers using these versions should consider upgrading before support for these products end as, once they do, we will no longer provide security updates."
Soon to retire Windows versions include:
Windows Vista (RTM). The initial shipping version of Windows Vista will no longer be supported starting April 13, 2010. Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) or to Windows 7.
Windows XP with Service Pack 2. This XP version is no longer supported as of July 13, 2010. Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to Service Pack 3 (SP3) or to Windows 7. (Also of note is Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, which will no longer be supported starting July 13, 2011, and as with Vista RTM, Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to a newer version.)
Windows 2000. The extended support phase for Windows 2000 will retire on July 13, 2010. Customers will need to upgrade to a newer Windows version in order to continue receiving security updates.
Microsoft delivers monthly security patches on the second Tuesday of every month (which is today). As Bryant notes, newer versions of Microsoft products like Windows and Office suffer from fewer overall security vulnerabilities—and fewer critical vulnerabilities—than do older versions. So Microsoft recommends keeping these products up-to-date and, when possible, to upgrade to the newest versions. "The latest versions are less impacted overall due to the improved security protections built in to these products," he added.
Regardless of which Windows or Office versions you're using, however, this month promises to be a punishing one for security updates. Microsoft will fix 26 vulnerabilities across 13 security bulletins, 5 of which will be rated critical. Eleven of the security bulletins affect Windows, while the remaining two affect Office
Advertisement
Discuss this Article 14
XP SP2 has really been on the outer for a while as most updates need SP3 to install such as the MS10-002 IE6 patch
Wow, some actual WinITPro's are here today...refreshing...
There is a lot of SP2's out there...s/b interesting
Paul teased that the MS Security Update would imitate a Mac update in the first sentence. He does this to out the Apple fanatics (even the one who don't think they're fanatics).
It is weird that there are no bitter Windows trolls on any of the Mac lists or forums I read, but the Windows sites are always rife with Mac fanboys. It really reeks of insecurity.
I love my Mac, but if you read Paul's writing without the blinding religious goggles of your Apple devotion you'd see that his opinions call out Microsoft when warranted too. The problem is that Mac fanboys can't stand a single negative word being said about their god even if it's true. That kind of ardent love for a company that exists only to take your money (liket they all do) is just plain weird and sadly misplaced.
@Jack - XP SP3 will last longer than Vista RTM, but Vista SP1 goes beyond XP SP3.
"Regardless of which Windows or Office versions you're using, however, this month promises to be a punishing one for security updates. Microsoft will fix 26 vulnerabilities across 13 security bulletins, 5 of which will be rated critical. Eleven of the security bulletins affect Windows, while the remaining two affect Office."
Geez, why are you people still wasting your lives on this broken software? What a debacle.
Paul, your obsession with Apple is becoming unhealthy. Please seek psychological counseling now before it's too late.
"It is weird that there are no bitter Windows trolls on any of the Mac lists or forums I read"
You must not be visiting any Mac forums then. Windows trolls are the biggest trolls in existence, in one breathblasting OS X for no reason even though they've never used a Mac, and in the next breath claiming it's arrogant Mac users who are the ones that start the fights.
Windows users have been insecure since the 80s because everyone always knew that Windows was a cheap knock-off of the superior MacOS. After almost three decades, it's even more glaringly obvious, especially with the Vista 7 Service Pack that copied the OS X Dock.
Bonch (preseton) must be studying for his SAT's. "Debacle" must be his word of the week.
@lotsahypocrisy:
Your obsession with Paul is becoming unhealthy. Please seek psychological counseling now before it's too late.
This really isn't as big of a deal as it first seems. If you read Bryant's post only five of these will affect Windows 7 and none will affect Office 2007 (only versions prior to Office 2007 get the two updates). In other words, just another typical month, if you've been upgrading your software on a somewhat regular basis that is.
This just goes to show that having regular software upgrades can significantly improve security. As the article and Bryant's blog post already state.
Good post, it's interesting that XP SP3 is going to last longer than Vista. Shows how influential business' are to Microsoft's support.
Why do iSuckers even read this page? It is obviously a Windows page. They over pay for a computer that very few people use because it looks cool and then constantly have to justify them selves.
If you were writing software for computers and wanted to make some money? Which operating system would you write for? The 96% one or the 4% one?
