Banking with Windows XP

unforeseen

There will be no WIN 11

binaryuniverse

unforeseen wrote: »

There will be no WIN 11

Brand name? Probs not for a while, if ever. MS are seemingly going the Apple route of having a Version 10 with many updates. MacOS X V1, released 18 years ago, is a lot different to the current MacOS X v14. Wouldn't be too surprised to see the 10 dropped from the name, with just Windows, going forward.

But, end of the day, it's pretty much the same thing, under the hood. Windows 10 is 8 with upgrades, as 8 is 7 with upgrades, as 7 is Vista, as Vista is XP (although this upgrade came with a lot of needed kernel changes) , as XP is 2000 as 2000 is NT4. They're all evolutions of the same OS codebase.

Just hope that it will be possible to use Linux once WIN8 goes - or that "WIN11" is reasonably good.

Linux is already possible to use. Nothing to stop someone installing it alongside Windows, or in a virtual machine, and giving it a whirl. I primarily use Linux as my main OS.

Why change because some profit-maximisation outfit wants to keep its customers on an "upgrade" treadmill? Most OS "upgrades" are no such thing and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Operating systems have to be constantly upgraded, in order to support newer hardware, and deal with security threats, which are ever evolving. I doubt Windows 3.11 is going to utilise my 8 core Ryzen CPU and 32GB of RAM.



No PC user should be using XP, as their daily machine. Well, not if you connect to the internet. Far too many vulnerabilites and holes to be exploited. As mentioned above, if you don't use it online then it's perfectly fine to use. That's why the navy can still run old systems; they're perfectly suited for the task they were built for. But they're not built for a modern world.

Brian65

Despite the email from Nationwide saying 'from 30 September 2019, you’ll no longer be able to log onto the Internet Bank if you use Microsoft Windows Vista or XP' you still can today

AndyPK

Aren't the cashpoints still running WinXP ?

[Deleted User]

Why not upgrade to a laptop/desktop running Windows 10? Or I suppose you could use your phone app if it is a modern "smartphone".

If you're using XP, your machine is probably a few years old. A new machine would likely be more power efficient so you would save on your leccy bill.

polymaff

newbinvestor wrote: »

A new machine would likely be more power efficient so you would save on your leccy bill.

Please supply some justification of the above assertion.

Brian65

polymaff wrote: »

Please supply some justification of the above assertion.

If you want to go into detail its really a question for a computer forum. I'm no expert but can see the rating plates on new machines show they use less power than the old ones. I've also notioced older machines have mechanical hard drives, and need fans to cool the processors because they burn so much power. Going back further you have computers the size of a house, burning several kw of power, with only a fraction of the processing power of a smartphone.

Brian65

newbinvestor wrote: »

Why not upgrade to a laptop/desktop running Windows 10?

Tried Windows 10. Couldn't find where anything was, it wouldn't run the programmes I am used to and which do everything I want. Instead of that it seemed to be trying to sell me new programmes when I am perfectly happy with the old ones I have already bought and paid for, am used to and perfectly happy with.

thickasabrick

Unplug it from the internet.

Time to use a different method to access your online accounts.

Brian65 wrote: »

Anyone else still using XP?
Anyone know what makes XP users more vulnerable to online banking scams?

Not having updates to fix any identified security vulnerabilities since it stopped being supported in 2014. Particularly important if you are using the default web browser supplied with the system.

You can reduce your risk by using an operating system and browser that is up to date with the latest security patches.

As you point out yourself, something like a Chromebook with Chrome OS makes the updates automatic and almost transparent.

Brian65 wrote: »

I use a Google chromebook now which I understand is safest because its only a bare bones internet browser, without all the bloatware and stuff on Windows to slow it down and perhaps make it vulnerable to hackers?

All the other points mentioned about energy usage of an old PC, cost to replace, using a different browser (such as Chrome) etc are not relevent in the context of having an up to date patched operating system. On top of that you also need an up to date web browser to allow you to access your online accounts securely, not just banking.


This applies equally well to any device you use to access such as your phone, tablet etc.

polymaff

Brian65 wrote: »

If you want to go into detail its really a question for a computer forum. I'm no expert but can see the rating plates on new machines show they use less power than the old ones. I've also notioced older machines have mechanical hard drives, and need fans to cool the processors because they burn so much power. Going back further you have computers the size of a house, burning several kw of power, with only a fraction of the processing power of a smartphone.

Just looking to challenge a technical assertion in a non-technical forum. My own experience is that you cannot be that absolute.

By the way, you set the agenda as being about a PC - so less of this "computers the size of a house" hokum...:)

My own view - as one who only relatively recently migrated, reluctantly, from XP to W7pro - is that the key is to use a different browser and to keep it up-to-date. If you analyse the Windows updates the proportion relating to the Windows browser rises and rises as the OS ages, so XP, less use of Internet Explorer, is not as dangerous as some think.

That said, I do all of my financial work on a *minimal linux system which is used for nothing else.

* one with no email and no apps other than an up-to-date browser with a strictly limited set of urls permitted.