After 13 years since Microsoft Windows XP operating system was first released, it has finally been announced that its tech support would finally come to an end. This leaves about 500 million computers susceptible to hackers, spyware and other security threats. According to Microsoft, those who make use of Windows XP may still use their computers, but they are vulnerable to lots of security risks and viruses. Also, since more software and hardware manufacturers specialize in newer Microsoft Windows versions, there are a lot of apps and devices that may not work with Windows XP.

Aside from XP, Microsoft will also end its support for Office 2003 software. Sadly, a lot of users have not upgraded since then. The reason why Microsoft is finally ending its tech support is because the operating system has been plagued with so many security issues and other networking problems. There have been several critical updates released to fix the old problems, but they still keep on recurring. This is why Microsoft is no longer offering the updates for free. This means that whatever security settings are stored in the computer will stay that way forever.

Those who still use Windows XP have two options. They can either go for an OS upgrade or buy a new computer. Now that newer desktops are even available for as cheap as $200, buying a new computer is definitely the more practical choice.

Other than over 500 million XP users affected by these changes, big companies are also worried. If they have to go for any of these options, it would cost them millions of dollars. Worse, there are a lot of ATM's all over the world that still rely on XP. With the tech support gone, these machines become susceptible to hackers and could lead to bigger financial problems. However, despite clamors to retain support, Microsoft maintains its decision as final.