XP system stops service triggers chain reaction security vendors scramble for the "post-XP" era feast

8th, Microsoft provides the last patch update service to the Windows XP operating system, and will permanently terminate its technical support services for this product, including stopping the provision of XP system patches and security updates, and no longer addressing new vulnerabilities that have been discovered since. Bill Gates promotes the Windows XP operating system in New York Times Square on October 25, 2001. Xinhua News Agency

Yesterday, users of Windows XP systems received the last patch from Microsoft, the 13-year-old operating system ... Windows XP system officially exits the history stage. While Microsoft has "quit" the XP system, there are still at least 200 million users in China who choose to stick to it. To Microsoft left this blank place, Tencent Computer Butler, 360, rising and Jinshan and other domestic security manufacturers, have a high-profile launch for the XP system of free security services, an XP system for the Dark War opened.

XP System "Retire"

The exit of Windows XP system is the global strategy that Microsoft announced a few years ago, the new system that the operation experience is more convenient replaces XP system, is also the inevitable trend of science and technology development. As early as December 29, 2013, Microsoft announced that the Windows XP system will retire in 100 days, April 8, 2014, when Microsoft will no longer provide Windows XP technical help, including helping to protect computer systems from Automatic Updates.

The XP system still accounts for as much as 10% of the world's system share, and at its peak, more than 400 million people worldwide are using the operating system. According to data released by the Internet traffic Monitoring agency StatCounter, the current market share of XP in China is still as high as 54.13%,win7 ranked second, accounting for 38.01%, individual users install and use XP computer nearly 200 million units.

To speed up the iterative efficiency of the user system after "XP retirement" and help the user transition to the latest operating system, Microsoft has been developing a worldwide system of necessity reminders and propaganda, but it has been slow in China. On the one hand, China has the world's largest base of XP users, up to 200 million users occupy the Chinese PC market 70% share, such a large group of users to complete the operating system upgrade iterations may take a long period of 2-3 years. On the other hand, there are still a considerable number of Chinese users who are reluctant to upgrade to the new system due to limited computer hardware and usage habits.

In view of this, Microsoft China has to consider the Chinese users after the "retirement" of XP "clean-up" work, and "continue to provide security services during the transition" is from the Chinese XP users and the Chinese government's strongest voice. In the days leading up to 8th, Microsoft has been in agreement with the Dutch Government and other countries to pay for the extension of the security service. On the evening of March 2, Microsoft China announced its first public announcement that it was working on a "special operation" to work closely with domestic leading internet security and virus manufacturers, including Tencent, to continue providing services to users in China using Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, before upgrading to a new generation of operating systems, Continue to provide unique security services.

Corporate users are also "suffering"

The exit of the XP system is especially painful for business users. One of the "pains" of upgrading the operating system, AFP commented, is that companies need to ensure that the original software is working properly after the upgrade. At the same time, older computers using XP can not easily upgrade to the latest system, which means that some users need to buy new computers. At present, the domestic business applications based on Windows XP is very extensive, its hotels, finance, small and medium enterprises in the user community is very large. Interview, many business owners said, upgrade the operating system found that the original commonly used software can not run very well, because many software is designed for Windows XP, in order to ensure the normal operation of the business, many companies choose to postpone the upgrade. In fact, this problem is not only in China, but many business users, including the United States, face this dilemma. Many ATMs are reported to be "vulnerable" to hacking attacks using XP systems. Maik Silver, an analyst at Gartner, said the ATMs, which are installed in small shops or bars, may be at greater risk of not being owned by banks, whose owners are generally unwilling to invest in software security.

According to the analysis, the security concerns caused by Windows XP stopping service are mainly due to the serious consequences that the loopholes can not be repaired in time. In other words, XP stopped service, there are serious vulnerabilities were discovered by hackers, and no patches can be patched, users will face a large range of Trojan virus infection, sensitive information leakage and other information security risks. Security experts recommend that the best precaution for users before they are upgraded to a new generation of operating systems is to intercept the malicious code before it enters the enterprise, with stronger performance, simpler management of security gateways, antivirus gateways, and reputation assessment techniques.

There are also a number of users who are switching to other computer systems on the market, such as Linux, Chromebook and Apple Mac. According to the latest data from the statistics agency NET applications, Windows 7 has a market share of 48.77% this March, while Windows XP still has a 27.69% market share. The Apple Mac OS X operating system has a market share of 7.57%,linux 1.49%.

"Connecting rods" of domestic security manufacturers

According to the China Internet Network Information Center, more than 57% of Chinese XP users said they would not consider replacing the operating system. Many consumers know that XP "retired" after the news, the first reaction is that the next computer to "run naked." Fact。 To know that this is a huge market with more than 200 million users, Microsoft's "retreat" has sparked a collective feast for Chinese security firms.

The first Tencent computer Butler to work with Microsoft, Microsoft China and Tencent, launched deep cooperation yesterday, providing XP users with 7x24-hour security services. This is the next month, Microsoft, Tencent, Lenovo to the XP retirement events and the launch of the "Windows XP user support Action" service upgrade, designed to "post-XP" era for 200 million XP users under the "reassurance" to provide real protection.

According to Tencent deputy general manager Wu, Microsoft and Tencent will be targeted at new viruses, malware, high-risk vulnerabilities and other large-scale security emergencies joint response, by the two sides of the core technical team to jointly layout defense, Microsoft authorized Tencent Computer Butler to provide users with basic security services. Tencent Computer Butler's computer clinic opened 24 hours online self-service, and with Lenovo company to open more than 2,400 "XP rescue Station" (Lenovo Service Center), users encounter XP security problems can be through the above channels to help.

An active 360 in the security field was followed by an official partnership with Microsoft, and 360 will provide XP users with a continuous upgrade of the transition period of security protection services to ensure that the XP system security. 360, said the security Guards XP Shield armor opening volume has exceeded 200 million mark this month, covers the domestic 80% or so XP user. In addition to product and technical solutions, 360 will also be dedicated to XP users to launch the net purchase first compensation plan, from April 8 onwards, 360 net purchase first compensation in the original payment conditions, will be doubled to upgrade the security of XP users, open "XP Shield" users, if the 360 security guards did not defend the fishing or trojan and suffered losses, Can enjoy 360 single maximum of 6000 yuan in cash compensation.