Microsoft extends security fixes for Windows XP to 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25758308

But no security patches, so this makes it more vulnerable for online banking, shopping etc.
I know its not the safest OS as it is now.

Nice to know BBC can't write a nice article without trying to bash Microsoft in some way. I'm referring to this bit

This longevity is partly because of the poor reception that its successor Windows Vista received and because some businesses have found it hard to adapt to the changes introduced in Windows 7 and 8.

Microsoft should be fully applauded for this decision, they are in it for the long run.

In reply to a post by Zodiac:

But no security patches, so this makes it more vulnerable for online banking, shopping etc.
I know its not the safest OS as it is now.

Oh absolutely, but we are talking about a 15 year old operating system here, which is quite frankly amazing that it has stood the test of time so long.

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

In reply to a post by Zodiac:

But no security patches, so this makes it more vulnerable for online banking, shopping etc.
I know its not the safest OS as it is now.

Oh absolutely, but we are talking about a 15 year old operating system here, which is quite frankly amazing that it has stood the test of time so long.

Agree, but it is time to let it go, i can understand why some people want to keep it on older machines, but when they want it put onto newer machine I have to ask why?

windows 7 is far better than XP and a new machine running XP don't make sense. I can understand people for not wanting windows 8.

Microsoft will be releasing security notices for it until 2015...

This doesn't really solve the problem. True the security products will be updated with new virus definitions (for example), but any security vulnerabilities in the OS will remain unpatched. This will still leave XP systems open to attack in a way that patched systems are not. Don't mistake this for continued support for XP, just a slight reprieve whilst you migrate to a modern OS.

In reply to a post by broadband66:

I'm still using Windows 2000 on one laptop with no issues, XP on a PC and W7 on another laptop. All networked together with all virus' contained with AVG antivirus and ZoneAlarm firewall on all machines.

If I keep running XP, would it be best to keep MS Security essentials, or revert to AVG?

MSE has gone all red and cross on my XP

Indeed, but it will still update itself and MS will continue to issue updates to MSE until July 2015