XP Systems Getting Emergency IE Zero Day Patch 179
msm1267 (2804139) writes "Microsoft announced it will release an out-of-band security update today to patch a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer, and that the patch will also be made available for Windows XP machines through Automatic Update. At the same time, researchers said they are now seeing attacks specifically targeting XP users.
Microsoft no longer supports XP as of April 8, and that includes the development and availability of security updates. But the about-face today speaks to the seriousness of the vulnerability, which is being exploited in limited targeted attacks, Microsoft said. Researchers at FireEye, meanwhile, said multiple attackers are now using the exploit against XP machines, prompting the inclusion of XP systems in the patch."
Microsoft no longer supports XP as of April 8, and that includes the development and availability of security updates. But the about-face today speaks to the seriousness of the vulnerability, which is being exploited in limited targeted attacks, Microsoft said. Researchers at FireEye, meanwhile, said multiple attackers are now using the exploit against XP machines, prompting the inclusion of XP systems in the patch."
Re:just kill them already (Score:5, Insightful)
the problem is when they get hacked, they aren't going to get rid of their machines or go offline.
they will just become one more in the zombie army, and the REST of us end up suffering.
Microsoft is doing the right thing here.
Re:That's smart (Score:2, Insightful)
No, it speaks to the seriousness of letting 30% of the PC user base twist in the wind, and start thinking about 2020 when the same thing will happen to 7, and maybe start browsing the Apple stores.
Xp embedded is still getting updates (Score:0, Insightful)
So it not really that big of a deal to also update the desktop xp as well
Re:just kill them already (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft has no spine. (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, how dare they provide support for a large percentage of their userbase, rather than try to force their users to pay them more money for the latest version! Those bastards!
Seriously, I get that XP is old and there are real disadvantages to its continued use, but it's amazing to me that we've actually reached the point where MS is getting flack for not adhering strongly enough to planned obsolescence. Like, we want them to be greedier now and stop providing free updates? I'd like to believe that they'll continue supporting Win7 for quite some time. I don't particularly like the idea of forced paid upgrades, or the "subscription Windows" that everyone seems to think is coming.
I'd love it if people would start moving off of XP and onto modern OS'es, but that's not going to happen right away regardless of what MS does, and I'm not going to knock them for supporting their product long-term.
Re:Microsoft has no spine. (Score:5, Insightful)
They should support it as long as they hold copyright on it. When the support ends, it should be put in the public domain.
Re:Microsoft has no spine. (Score:4, Insightful)
Because they're acting as a responsible corporate entity, maybe? It must be shocking to Apple users to see something like this, but Microsoft has actually been a relatively responsible, responsive company for a long time, now.
Re:just kill them already (Score:0, Insightful)
The fuck are you on about, cunt? Our household just had a safety mailout+free fix on one of our 15 year old Nissans. I don't know much about Ford nor Toyota, but Nissans aren't hipster cars, so you're not expected to landfill them after your Applecare runs out.
And expecting an old car to come up to modern safety regulations isn't the same thing as finding that it has always had a fault which would have been immediately so identified if spotted during manufacturing.
So many people angry today because MS does something responsible and impossible to attack with reason alone.
Re:There should be only two options (Score:5, Insightful)
So whenever a company discontinues a product, they relinquish all rights they had to that product? I don't think that's how copyright or patent law works.
Why Microsoft won't abandon those users (Score:4, Insightful)
Why should they continue to spend money to support an ancient OS that no one is buying any more? They're not receiving any new revenue for it, so why should they continue to support it?
They are absolutely receiving revenue for it, just not directly. These users are part of the Windows total addressable market. Developers choosing to write applications and looking at which platform to choose look at this number. 30% of the Windows userbase comes from XP. If Microsoft upsets these users by letting rampant malware trash their systems, a chunk of these people may switch to e.g. Apple. Oops! Now we have more cross platform or Apple-native apps being developed because there are more users there. Microsoft does not want this to happen.
Re:There should be only two options (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes, if I own a Magnum, and Dodge refuses to support it, then I should be able to go to somebody who can and will. So, yes, Dodge should lose its exclusive privileges granted by copyright law, absolutely.