are windows XP safe to use?

I still use xp, many of the browser functions won't support newer updated websites. If you can stand it, I'm sure it won't be an issue using it

 

I use an old XP (actually Linux, but with XP running in Virtualbox) laptop. I turn off the wifi before starting up XP. I once got a virus on XP while I was installing it before I even had a chance to install antivirus software and that was behind a pretty serious firewall.

 

I use XP at events with no internet, but I am no longer using it with internet access.

 

With the chrome browser, it won't even load PC site

 

Who the heck was it said: A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing?
The more I read, the truer that seems to get.

 

This week Mozilla issued the last XP version of Firefox
Final Firefox version with Windows XP, plugin support released today | Ars Technica

 

I still use windows 98 on the internet, viruses crash due to lack of support

 

I had a similar scenario, on a campus that was all gigabit ethernet (1000baseT) I had one PC with old thinnet (10base2) connection to a piece of lab equipment we could not replace economically. The PC had to run at 4.77 Mhz or the software had timing issues. By 2002, it was getting harder and harder to find PCs that could run that slow.

I did not dislike Win2000 on desktops, it was hell on laptops. Win ME was always hell. (if my client's PC became infected and I cleaned it up, ME restored the virus from the recovery files) You could always go back to 98 and clean it there.

The best and brightest worked on 2000, the other Microsofties worked on ME.

 

It seems that some people don't yet understand the risk from malicious attack. It's not all about losing your files or ransomware. Malicious hackers can and do break into PC systems that are security flawed and no longer updated despite firewalls (and modem firewalls can be easy to crack) without being obvious and can then use it anonimously to spread and spam and conduct criminal activity. You may be happy with that, but the next few people down the line might lose out very badly because you didn't give a damn. Hope that explains my concern. I know the old systems will perform useful tasks for some things, but believe me they are like a loose cannon if they connect to the internet.

 

Good reason to connect and manually disconnect the system so it doesn't sit online long and since it's hooked up via dialup the hackers ability to transfer any significant amount data with it would take hours and any connections are immediately noticed dianosed

 

I agree the risk in your case may be small, but it's not impossible!
You will not be able to detect a modern hack attack. From UK there is very little dial up internet still available but these things can come in small electronic packages and only activate when they link up. I hope you keep safe.

 

Hack are easy to see data going in or out are screen readable, if transmission is occurring when none is demanded it means someone is doing something.

 

I'm waiting to hear from the guy who still sends smoke signals. But smoke doesn't make sounds - suppose I need to look out the window?

 

I still have several XP boxes that I use at work to communicate with telecom equipment, but there's no way I would connect one of these machines to the interwebs, nor would I ever advise ANYONE to use an XP box for any internet activity except possibly to visit sites that require no keystrokes, which I guess is possible but why would one do this????

I have 2 old boxes at home that run rather well on Linux.
It requires very little effort and knowledge to change the operating system, and for those that do not wish to go that route, a chrome box or chrome book can be had for less than $200.

There simply IS NO good reason left to mix XP with internet.
Of course.......people still smoke, drink and drive, and eat cheeseburgers.

I guess we're only human.

 

LOL. It never ceases to amaze me that while having precious little knowledge of IT security risks folks still think they can actually 'see' and read a binary algorithm entering their machines via the screen.

 

In a related note, I installed a Windowed version of the BBQ Judge Score-keeping program last night. We will test it April 9 at the Ham Jam, my wife will score the contest on the new App, the official score will be on the DOS Box app. May 1st at Hogs for the Cause may be the last time we use XP for BBQ scores. (Our contests rarely have internet access)