Time to upgrade your entire system?
May 21, 2019
by Katie Ritchie
Do you have an older computer using Microsoft Windows software? You’ll need to update your computer.
On May 14, Microsoft announced a computer bug it had just patched. Hackers had not exploited the bug as of Microsoft’s announcement. However, the company believes the Windows flaw will be targeted with malicious software.
It’s important that users and companies who use older software update immediately. The bug only affects Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP, but Microsoft is taking the threat seriously.
Microsoft released patches for XP and Windows Server 2003. This is noteworthy because the company stopped supporting both operating systems.
Windows XP stopped being supported April 8, 2014. Windows Server 2003 stopped being supported on July 14, 2015.
Microsoft said “malware that exploits this vulnerability could propagate from vulnerable computer to vulnerable computer… across the globe.” According to Microsoft, if you use a newer computer with Windows 10 or Windows 8, you should be safe.
If you have one of the old operating systems, you can update your computer by opening the start menu. Find “Windows Update” from your programs list. On Windows 7 you’ll find Windows Updates under System and Security on the Start menu.
If you’re worried about these and future vulnerabilities, consider upgrading your system. New operating systems are better about automatically updating. They are also supported by Microsoft and the manufacturer.
