Windows XP Support Ending Soon

Microsoft has announced that after April 8, 2014, it will no longer provide technical assistance for Windows XP, including automatic updates that help protect your PC.

Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date. If you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you will continue to receive anti-malware signature updates for a limited time, but this does not mean that your PC will be secure because Microsoft will no longer be providing security updates to protect your PC, the company says.

If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.

So … it may be time to upgrade your Microsoft Windows operating system. You can find helpful information from Microsoft. Also, learn more about what constitutes HIPAA security in the TMA HIPAA Resource Center. Upgrading to the latest version of Windows or other supported operating system is just one aspect of securing protected health information. While continuing to use Windows XP could put you at risk, upgrading does not automatically make you HIPAA-compliant. HIPAA requires you to evaluate you own systems and internal practices to determine your compliance with HIPAA regulations. The federal government does not list or certify any specific software (or hardware) as meeting HIPAA standards.

Published Feb. 5, 2014

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Last Updated On

May 30, 2019

Originally Published On

February 05, 2014

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