Windows XP Antimalware Updates Will Continue Until April 2015

In November 2013, word surfaced that Microsoft might end antivirus software updates for Windows XP in April 2014. We might think if antivirus updates were ending that would mean other updates would end as well. That appears to not be the case.Microsoft has announced that it will continue to offer antimalware updates for Windows XP for another full year. Those antimalware updates will be offered through April 15, 2015. There is a caveat to this announcement, after April 2014, the Security Essentials software itself won't be available for download.

That means if you are on XP and want to get the antimalware updates for another year, you need to have Security Essentials installed on your PC before April 2014. While Microsoft didn't say it was ending antivirus updates, it has said no security updates will be offered for XP.

Most people that run Windows XP and want to keep it will likely move to third party antivirus and antimalware offerings and continue on. The biggest threat for those that continue to use Windows XP will be the lack of security updates.

SOURCE: Microsoft