From InfoWorld: As Windows XP's end-of-life date draws closer, Microsoft has begun backpedaling, opening the door to speculation about a possible stay of execution. Mind, the official Microsoft party line hasn't changed one whit: Windows XP and Office 2013 will "transition" to end of life on April 8. As Microsoft says on its death knell website:
After April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect your PC. Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date.
And the corporate version of the same epitaph stings even a bit more:
After April 8, 2014, there will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates. Running Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 in your environment after their end of support date may expose your company to potential risks, such as:
Security & Compliance Risks: Unsupported and unpatched environments are vulnerable to security risks. This may result in an officially recognized control failure by an internal or external audit body, leading to suspension of certifications, and/or public notification of the organization's inability to maintain its systems and customer information.
Lack of Independent Software Vendor (ISV) & Hardware Manufacturers support: A recent industry report from Gartner Research suggests "many independent software vendors (ISVs) are unlikely to support new versions of applications on Windows XP in 2011; in 2012, it will become common." And it may stifle access to hardware innovation: Gartner Research further notes that in 2012, most PC hardware manufacturers will stop supporting Windows XP on the majority of their new PC models.
But while the three-headed dog roars, Microsoft has also been backpedaling.
In early January, Microsoft changed its end-of-support page to say "Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP." It's hard to say exactly what that phrase means: Will Microsoft keep you from downloading MSE on an XP machine? (A toothless tiger, because you could download it on a Win7 machine and install on XP.) Will Microsoft keep you from installing MSE on an XP machine? (What if you have to re-install XP -- will Microsoft prevent you from having something you've had for years?) Will Microsoft prevent you from running MSE on an XP machine? Not likely.
Then in mid-January, Microsoft blinked. The powers-that-be announced that Microsoft would continue to provide MSE (and other Microsoft anti-malware package) updates for XP machines until July 2015. That's silly, because providing MSE definition changes without patches to Windows itself is a bit like handing out fire extinguishers while cutting off fire engines.
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